The mother of U.S. Army veteran Monique Coverson is calling for President Obama, Al Sharpton, and U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait, Douglas A. Silliman to intervene in her daughter’s legal battle.

Monique and her girlfriend, Larissa – two openly lesbian soldiers – served in the U.S. Army for seven years, and subsequently found jobs as military contractors in Kuwait. In May 2015, Kuwait police arrested and jailed the couple for eight months while one ounce of K2, a form of synthetic marijuana found in their home, was tested in Germany. Within that time, the K2, which is legal in Kuwait, had mysteriously become one pound of hashish, according to the Kuwaiti government. The women were then charged with illegal drug possession and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Monique’s family believes the veteran is being punished by the government for being a lesbian. Kuwait is a very strict country where homosexuality is punished under a “debauchery law.” Unlike the U.S., there is no LGBT community in Kuwait to help fight for civil rights. Monique’s mother started a Change.org petition, which has already garnered over 100,000 signatures. She hopes to get the attention of the President and the U.S. government to release the women and help extradite them to the United States.

SOURCE: Rolling Out | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty