Venezuela: Arrests for participation in satirical play about two LGBTI police officers

Two actors, director, and producer were arrested for almost 24 hours because of their participation in a play about two gay police officers, reported Global Times.

Actors Pedro Wise and Isaias Ovalle, director Leonam Torres and producer Johana Villafranca were arrested and accused of  “the crime of usurping public function when pretending to present a theatrical piece while wearing the regulatory uniform” in a satirical play Two Cops in Trouble.

#ULTIMAHORA Acaban de soltar, libre de cargo, a los dos actores, la productora y el director de “Dos policías en problemas” quienes fueron detenidos el domingo en plena función en el Microteatro #5Ago

— CarmeLa Longo (@carmeLaLongo) August 6, 2019

According to the Global Times, a lawyer representing the artists said that performances will continue starting Tuesday but the actors will wear replicas of police uniforms instead of the original ones.

This drastic response towards satirists insulting state officials has become a distressing trend. Freemuse encourages signing the petition for an immediate release of imprisoned members of the Myanmar thangyat troupe Peacock Generation. The artists are imprisoned for a performance in which they donned a military dress.