Two Emirati women file case to be recognised as males

abu dhabi — Two young Emirati women are seeking court permission to be allowed to become men after reportedly undergoing sexchange operations abroad.

The transgender women, aged 22 and 23, filed their lawsuit at the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of First Instance asking for permission to change their gender and also have their female names changed to that of males in the government nationals’ registry.

Ali Al Mansoori, a lawyer representing the Emirati women, said the two young women underwent sex-change operations in a European country after suffering from congenital defects and having masculine features including too much hair on their legs, big voices and other features “that distinguished them from women”.

The lawyer noted that his clients had received “many medical reports” that recommended the sex-change operations and now want legal permission to have their gender and names

The sex-change operations were considered after medical committees examined them and confirmed that they had biological disorders which affected them psychologically.” Ali Al Mansoori, lawyer

changed in government records.

“The young women said they felt as if they were males from an early age. The sex-change operations were considered after several specialised medical committees examined them and confirmed that they had biological disorders which affected them psychologically,” said Al Mansoori.

“The court has appointed a medical committee to examine the conditions of the two women and issue a medical report on their eligibility for sex change,” Al Mansoori added.

The Federal Law No. (4) of 2016 on medical matters, which came into effect last year, permits a sexchange operation if a person’s gender is unclear or if a medical examination confirms that their physical features do not match their biological, physiological and genetic characteristics, according to the lawyer.

“Changing sex is a long process that requires a medical report from the authorised medical committee stating that it is a medical necessity before courts can permit it,” said Al Mansoori.

In September last year, an Emirati woman had filed a case at the Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance, seeking permission to undergo a sex-change operation. According to Al Mansoori — who is representing the woman — the case is still pending in court.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com