The gay bar "Commander D" in Taipei, Taiwan, was raided, sparking controversy over police discrimination and improper law enforcement.

Commander D, a gay bar in Ximending, Taipei, Taiwan, was raided over the weekend. During the raid, the police officers at the scene were accused of making discriminatory remarks and improper enforcement of the law, causing controversy.

During the search on the afternoon of last Saturday (October 3), the person in charge was arrested and many people at the scene were taken away. A group focusing on the rights of the LGBT community called on Sunday (4th) to protest against improper police enforcement at the Red House Police Station in Ximending. More than a hundred people attended.

The local police once clarified that "there was no verbal humiliation of persons with disabilities." Later, it was confirmed that police officers had been punished for inappropriate words and deeds, and six police officers had been reprimanded. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan said on Monday (5th) that the police department would be asked to review.

Taiwan became the first region in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019. Taipei will host East Asia's largest gay parade at the end of this month. The police action has drawn attention to the local image of freedom and openness.

What did the officers do during the search?

According to Taiwan media reports, the police raided the "Commander D" bar last Saturday afternoon and took away the bar manager surnamed Zhong and a total of 52 other people present, including men who were naked from the waist down. Condoms, lubricants, etc. were also seized.

"Commander D" is a gay BDSM theme bar that has been open for more than ten years. BDSM refers to a sexual pattern involving bondage, dominance, sadomasochism and sensory stimulation.

The Wanhua Branch of the Taipei City Police Department stated that it has transferred Zhong Nan to the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office (Taipei District Prosecutor's Office) for investigation on suspicion of obstructing moral decency, and the other related persons will be punished on suspicion of violating the Social Order Maintenance Act.

After the search operation, posts circulated on the Internet, including live recordings. A police officer once said: "Can a disabled person still have sex in there?"

BBC Chinese was unable to independently verify the content of the recording. There is also a video showing that a police officer said that people present were not allowed to record.

Chen Yikai, captain of the investigation team, once clarified that there was no verbal humiliation of specific people with disabilities.

The police stated that this case was reported by the public and legally collected evidence, and it was confirmed that there was an offense against moral decency, and some police officers who had inappropriate words and deeds have been punished. The police also confirmed that there were indeed inappropriate words and deeds by police officers during the law enforcement process, and administrative sanctions have been imposed on 6 police officers. They will continue to strengthen education and training in the future to require police officers to respect multiculturalism and protect the rights and interests of citizens.

People launch demonstrations to protest

At a protest held outside the police station in front of the Red Building in Ximending, Mr. Wen, a citizen who claimed to have been taken away by the police, told Reuters: "They raided very violently. It was really scary."

One of the protesters, Kang Yang, said that the police action coincided with Pride Month, which made him very angry. He emphasized: "I cannot accept this. This city has claimed to be gay-friendly in the past."

A number of organizations concerned about gay rights and human rights launched a joint statement to pay attention to the incident, pointing out that it is necessary for law enforcement agencies to investigate specific cases and must do so within the boundaries authorized by law and in the least intrusive manner. They put forward five demands, including independent investigation and retention of law enforcement records at the time.

When asked about the incident on Monday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan of the Chinese Kuomintang said: "No matter what age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic group or identity, we are all Taipei people who we must protect and enjoy the same rights."

"I am also very sorry for the people who were affected. If there is any inappropriateness in the process of law enforcement, of course it must be strictly reviewed."

Shen Boyang, a legislator from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and candidate for mayor of Taipei, said that everyone respects the police's law enforcement. If there are violations, they should be dealt with according to the law, but law enforcement does not mean that the method of law enforcement does not need to be reviewed.