Jailed and Deported: 6 Days in a Kuwaiti Prison for Sex Work

Behind Bars in Kuwait: My Story of Deportation and Survival as a Sex Worker

Travel has always been a passion of mine, especially when I can combine it with work. So, when my female friend and I decided to explore a new destination, Kuwait was at the top of our list. As a transgender woman, I relish the opportunity to experience different cultures and environments.

The excitement of new adventures beckoned, and we were ready to answer the call. On the 14th of May 2024, I packed my suitcase and set off from London to Istanbul. There, I met up with my dear Turkish friend, eager to embark on the next leg of our journey together. This wasn’t my first visit to Kuwait; I had previously traveled there with my aunt for a brief five-night holiday. That short stay left me with delightful memories and a yearning to see more.

As we prepared for our trip, this time solely for work to earn some KWD, we arranged to rent out our place for two nights. On the evening of the 14th, we arrived in Kuwait, ready to embark on our new adventure.

How We Got Caught?

Anyway, the first day went smoothly; we worked and earned some KWD. On the second night, while everything seemed to be going well, there was a sudden knock at our door. Thinking it was nothing serious, I answered the call from the owner, who claimed there was a fire in the air conditioner and that a maintenance person needed to check it. I assured her there was no fire and asked to be left alone, but I could hear people outside the door. It dawned on me that they might be from the CID police. My friend and I waited quietly for about 15 minutes until they used a spare key to open the door. To our shock, about ten people entered and took all our electronics, including our cell phones, iPads, and AirPods. We were utterly stunned by what was happening.

How the CID Discovered Us

Alright, let me explain how the CID actually found out about us. My female friend had an advertisement on an escort site, and someone from the CID contacted her, posing as a client. We checked the number he used, and it seemed clean. He made a booking and came to the place. When my friend opened the door, the guy just stood there staring at her from a distance. She asked him if he was going to come in or not, but he didn’t say anything.

I then appeared and told my friend that he seemed useless and wasn’t serious, so she slammed the door. After that, the guy texted her saying he was afraid and very nervous, unsure if he could meet up. He then started asking about me, and she told him that I was trans and offered a threesome, among other things. Despite the endless texts, I told her to block him because he was wasting her time.

About an hour later, after locating our address and flat number, the CID knocked on the door, entered, and arrested us.

So What Happened Next?

After arresting us, they made us wait in the corridor to begin the deportation process. During this time, they made derogatory remarks, mocking us. They emptied our handbags, placed our money on the table, checked every item in our handbags, and took photographs of everything (especially money KWD) except our suitcases, which they left untouched.

After enduring hours of standing and waiting, they eventually escorted us to the prison, which was located in the same building but adjacent to it. Upon arrival, they ordered us to strip completely naked. Despite my female passport, they identified me as a ladyboy and segregated me, placing me alone in a cell, while my female friend was housed with other female inmates.

NOTE: In the prison, they had a nurse who did a rapid HIV test. This involved pricking your finger with a needle and collecting a small blood sample.

What Happens If You Are a Trans? (tortured physically and mentally)

After waiting in the cell, Kuwaiti staff members came every 5 to 6 hours, shouting at me to get up and asking if I was a man or a woman. This happened more than 20 times, with them making fun of me and laughing at me. Even when I was sleeping, they would hit the jail bars to wake me up and ask, "What are you?" 

They showed no respect, care, or humanity. I spent six days there, imagine, six whole days! I hadn't eaten any food for four days, only drinking water. I was incredibly stressed, and the trauma I experienced still deeply affected me.

Counting the Minutes: Our Long Wait for Deportation

After spending six nights in jail, they finally called us, unlocked the cell, and told us to follow. I asked if my friend was coming too, but they didn't answer. However, after walking to another cell, they unlocked hers as well. We went upstairs and waited in a waiting room. They returned our belongings and informed us that we were going to the airport. I was so relieved, but I noticed they gave us everything except our money. They said they couldn't return the money when I asked about it.

They Seized Our Money

On the first day at the police station, they opened our bags and purses, laid everything out on the table, and took photos. They also collected our gold items, like rings, necklaces, and bracelets, putting them in a plastic bag and documenting all our belongings. On the day of deportation, they informed us we could retrieve our phones, iPads, and other items, but not our money. I had 650 KWD, equivalent to 1700 pounds, and my friend had 500 KWD plus 5000 dollars. My friend almost got into a fight over the foreign currency, arguing it was too much money to have earned locally. After a lengthy discussion, they returned the dollars to my friend but kept the Kuwaiti dinars.

I tried to explain that I had exchanged pounds for KWD and even showed them the receipt, but they refused to listen. They started to blackmail me, saying I could stay in jail for a few more days if I wanted my money back. Frustrated, I was ready to argue, but my friend advised me to let it go, as it wasn't worth staying in jail longer. In the end, we had to give up, took our belongings, and left.

The Final Day: Our Deportation Experience

After they told us they had our tickets and were taking us to the airport, I believed them. But they lied. Instead of the airport, we were taken to the Talha Detention Centre for deportation. They hadn’t even bought our tickets. I was so upset that I sat and cried. We arrived at the deportation center in the morning, and a police officer asked if I had any credit cards or money to buy my ticket. I explained that the CID officers had taken all my money, leaving me with nothing. The officer reassured me, saying he would buy my ticket, which was for a 10:00 PM flight. They put me in a cell to wait until my flight time. I waited until 7:00 PM and told them I needed to go to the airport because I had a bag. Finally, they took me and the Egyptian guy ( getting deported too ) to the airport by bus. One of the police officers took my luggage, checked it in, walked me to the gate, and made sure I got on the plane. I was so relieved!

When I arrived back home, it felt like I had entered a completely different world.

I've shared my experience, and I know it's an awful one. But once you're caught, there's not much you can do. As for whether I'll ever go to the Middle East again, I don't think I'll ever step foot there.

FAQ: Insights from My Experience - Let Me Address Your Questions

Is Kuwait safe for transgender travelers?

It's certainly not safe for transgender travelers, and I'll explain in detail why.

Immigration: When traveling to Kuwait, your appearance matters a lot at immigration. Even if you have a female passport and are transgender, officials will inspect your passport. If you look completely female and nobody can tell that you are transgender, it's easier for you to pass through passport control.

My Experince:  Alright, so here's what happened: I traveled to Kuwait for a five-day holiday with my aunt, who is around 56 years old. We booked a resort purely for leisure, with no plans to meet anyone. Despite holding a male passport (British), my appearance is entirely feminine, including my voice. Upon arrival at the airport, we headed to the visa-on-arrival section, where they requested our hotel reservation and printed return ticket. As we applied, they inspected my passport and asked, "Are you a ladyboy?" I confirmed and explained that I was here for a holiday with my aunt. They made us wait at the airport for about four hours and took my passport to the head office for a decision on whether I could enter or not. I had to repeatedly explain that I wasn't engaging in any illegal activities and was simply here with my elderly aunt for a holiday. Eventually, they allowed me to proceed and granted the visa. It was a significant ordeal for me, and my aunt was extremely stressed, almost having a heart attack from the intensity of the situation.

Don't question why I haven't changed my gender in the UK. It's a lengthy process, which is why I hadn't addressed it before. However, after this incident, I returned to London, applied, and successfully obtained my female passport.

Second Trip to Kuwait: During my second trip to Kuwait with my new passport, I encountered another issue. They questioned me intensely and almost detained me in a room that felt like an interrogation room. However, they eventually allowed me to proceed. Immigration procedures are notably stringent in Kuwait. This trip was by car from Saudi Arabia, just to clarify. Despite my expectations that it would be easier, it wasn't. As we all know, we were arrested on the second day, and we couldn't even enjoy our time here.

Here are the Notes That Will Help You 

1. Once you're arrested, they won't permit you to make any calls. It's always advisable to inform a friend or relative about your whereabouts and activities beforehand.  I'm fortunate to have the best cousin in the entire world! He messages me every day to check if I'm okay. When he realized that my WhatsApp messages weren't going through, he called the British Embassy in Kuwait to inform them about my situation. After four days, a representative from the consulate visited me, asking if I was okay and assuring me that they would do everything they could to help. They even mentioned the possibility of deportation, to which I eagerly responded that I already wanted to get deported. The representative informed me that I would be deported in two days, which made me incredibly happy.
2. If you ever travel to Kuwait for business, you're at high risk of deportation. They constantly check every single escort website. In the end, the outcome is likely to be deportation like mine. I've also heard from a friend of a friend that they were deported on the second day. You're lucky if you haven't been caught yet.
3. Once you're deported, you're banned permanently.

Do you have any questions or want to share your experiences to provide more insight for others? Feel free to comment and share additional information. The more details we have, the better-informed others will be.