Dubai-based Gulfnews reported that 127 people "mainly gays from the Gulf countries" have been arrested for holding a "depraved and decadent" party. Bahrain's Gulf Daily News puts the number closer to 200.

Gulfnews said that the revellers hired a sports hall in Hidd, a conservative village on Muharraq island in the north of Bahrain, and organised on Wednesday evening a fee-paying party that brought together gay men from the Arabian Gulf countries. "An undercover agent paid the 20 dinar entrance fee and was allowed into the hall where he saw dozens of cross-dressers drinking and smoking shishas. More patrols were called in and 127 people were arrested in the police swoop, the daily said.

"Most of the gays were between 18 and 30 years old and one Lebanese and one Syrian were among those arrested following the police bust, Al Ayam daily reported on Friday."

Homosexuality is banned in Bahrain, like in the other five Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Foreigners arrested in relation to gay activities are deported after serving prison terms.