Malaysian Court Rules Swatch LGBTQ-Themed Watch Seizure Illegal

The government has been ordered to return 172 confiscated watches within 14 days, with officials awaiting the full judgment before deciding on next steps.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that Malaysia's Home Ministry illegally seized 172 Swatch watches from the brand's Pride collection in May 2023 without a search warrant.
The court found that the watches, which featured rainbow designs and the acronym 'LGBTQ,' were confiscated before a formal ban was imposed, making the seizure unlawful.
Swatch filed a lawsuit arguing that the watches promoted 'peace and love,' not sexual activity, and sought their return along with potential damages for harm caused to the brand's reputation.
The Home Ministry, which had justified the seizure as protecting morality and public interest, stated it would respect the court's decision but is awaiting the full judgment before deciding on an appeal.
The ruling comes amid broader concerns over increasing restrictions on LGBTQ expression in Malaysia, where same-sex relationships are criminalized under civil and Islamic law.