LGBT rights in the Middle East

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LGBT rights in the Middle East
Middle East (orthographic projection) (Homosexuality) Close-Up.svg
  Same-sex marriage done abroad recognized
  Civil unions, same-sex marriage done abroad recognized
  Homosexuality is legal
  Anti-propaganda law
  Prison unenforced
  Punishable by prison
  Death penalty unenforced
  Enforced death penalty
Status Legal in: Turkey, Israel, Egypt (de jure), Jordan, West Bank, Lebanon (de facto), Cyprus, Northern Cyprus, Bahrain, Iraq (de jure), Kuwait (for females)
Illegal in: Syria, Egypt (de facto), Gaza Strip, Iran, Iraq (de facto), Lebanon (de jure), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Kuwait (for males)

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people generally have limited or highly restrictive rights in most parts of the Middle East, and are open to hostility in others. Sex between men is illegal in 9 of the 18 countries that make up the region. It is punishable by death in four of these 18 countries. The rights and freedoms of LGBT citizens are strongly influenced by the prevailing cultural traditions and religious mores of people living in the region – particularly Islam.

Contents

All same-sex activity is legal in Cyprus, Northern Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, and Turkey.

Male same-sex activity is illegal and punishable by imprisonment in Kuwait, Egypt, Oman, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. It is also punishable by death in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. In Yemen and the Gaza Strip, the punishment might differ between death and imprisonment depending on the act committed.

History

Evidence of homosexuality in the Middle East can be traced back at least until the time of Ancient Egypt [1] and Mesopotamia. In ancient Assyria, sex crimes were punished identically whether they were homosexual or heterosexual. [2] An individual faced no punishment for penetrating someone of equal social class, a cult prostitute, or with someone whose gender roles were not considered solidly masculine. [2] In an Akkadian tablet, the Šumma ālu , it states, "If a man copulates with his equal from the rear, he becomes the leader among his peers and brothers". [3] [4] However, homosexual relationships with fellow soldiers, slaves, royal attendants, or those where a social better was submissive or penetrated, were treated as bad omens. [5] [6] A Middle Assyrian Law Codes dating from 1075 BC has a rather harsh law for homosexuality in the military, which reads: "If a man have intercourse with his brother-in-arms, they shall turn him into a eunuch." [7] [8] [9]

Around 250 BC, during the Parthian Empire, the Zoroastrian text Vendidad was written. It contains provisions that are part of sexual code promoting procreative sexuality that is interpreted to prohibit same-sex intercourse as sinful. Ancient commentary on this passage suggests that those engaging in sodomy could be killed without permission from a high priest. However, a strong homosexual tradition in Iran is attested to by Greek historians from the 5th century onward, and so the prohibition apparently had little effect on Iranian attitudes or sexual behavior outside the ranks of devout Zoroastrians in rural eastern Iran. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] Attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and their experiences in the Muslim world have been influenced by its religious, legal, social, political, and cultural history.

The Quran narrates the story of the "people of Lot" destroyed by the wrath of God because the men engaged in lustful carnal acts between themselves. [15] [16] [17] [18] Within the Quran, it never states that homosexuality is punishable by death, [19] and modern historians conclude that the Islamic prophet Muhammad never forbade homosexual relationships, although he shared contempt towards them alongside his contemporaries. [20] However, some hadith collections condemn homosexual and transgender acts, [15] [21] [22] [23] prescribing death penalty for both the active and receptive partners who have engaged in male homosexual intercourse. [24]

There is little evidence of homosexual practice in Islamic societies for the first century and a half of the early history of Islam, [24] although male homosexual relationships were known [21] and ridiculed, but not sanctioned, in Arabia. [20]

During the medieval period and the early modern age, Middle Eastern societies saw a flourishing of homo-erotic literature. Shusha Guppy of the Times Higher Education Supplement argued that although it "has long been assumed that the Arab-Islamic societies have always been less tolerant of homosexuality than the West", in "the pre-modern era, Western travelers were amazed to find Islam 'a sex-positive religion' and men openly expressing their love for young boys in words and gestures." [25]

During the Islamic Golden Age, the Abbasid dynasty is known for being relatively liberal regarding homosexuality. [26] This is due to a variety of factors, notably the move towards a more bureaucratic Islamic rule and away from literalist adherence to the scripture.

Many Islamic rulers were known to engage in, or at least tolerate, homosexual activity. For instance, Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid II was said to enjoy "al-talawut", an Arabic word for sex with other men. Abu Nuwas, one of the most prominent Arab poets to extensively produce homoerotic works, did so under the tutelage and protection of Harun al-Rashid. Harun al-Rashid's successor, Al-Amin, rejected women and concubines, preferring eunuchs instead. [27]

Homosexual acts are forbidden in traditional Islamic jurisprudence and are liable to different punishments, including the death penalty, [24] depending on the situation and legal school. However, homosexual relationships were generally tolerated in pre-modern Islamic societies, [20] [21] [24] [28] and historical records suggest that these laws were invoked infrequently, mainly in cases of rape or other "exceptionally blatant infringement on public morals". [24] Public attitudes toward homosexuality in the Muslim world underwent a marked negative change starting from the 19th century through the gradual spread of Islamic fundamentalist movements such as Salafism and Wahhabism, [29] [30] [31] and the influence of the sexual notions and restrictive norms prevalent in Europe at the time: a number of Muslim-majority countries have retained criminal penalties for homosexual acts enacted under European colonial rule. [32] [33] [34] [35] name="KlaudaGlob"> Die Vertreibung aus dem Serail: Europa und die Heteronormalisierung der islamischen Welt (Berlin: Männerschwarm-Verlag, 2008) In the 19th and early 20th century, homosexual activity was relatively common in the Middle East, owing in part to widespread sex segregation, which made heterosexual encounters outside marriage more difficult. Georg Klauda writes that "Countless writers and artists such as André Gide, Oscar Wilde, Edward M. Forster, and Jean Genet made pilgrimages in the 19th and 20th centuries from homophobic Europe to Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, and various other Arab countries, where homosexual sex was not only met without any discrimination or subcultural ghettoization whatsoever, but rather, additionally as a result of rigid segregation of the sexes, seemed to be available on every corner." [36] Homosexuality was outlawed in 1943 in Lebanon, to conform to the rule of the Vichy regime of France. The law is known as article 543 in the country's Penal Code. [37] In Iran, men could be intimate with other men without being in a formal relationship. Young men without facial hair were considered beautiful and older men would pursue them. It was not until the nineteenth century, when Europeans began to visit Iran, that the view of homosexual male relationships became negative. European men claimed the relations between Iranian men were immoral. This European perspective was widely adopted by Iranian society. [38] This outlook on queerness within the Middle East has worsened as totalitarian governments, beginning in the 1970s, came to power and justified their values on Islamic fundamentalism. [39]

Transgender people have also faced backlash in the Middle East in the late 1900s. There was fear that because one could not differentiate men and women based on their outer appearance, it would cause instability within society. Gender-affirming surgeries were introduced and became accessible and prevalent among transgender women in Iran. In 1976, the Medical Council of Iran outlawed gender reassignment surgery after seeing the increase of procedures among transgender women. They have changed this ruling since then. [40]

Before globalization, Middle Eastern men and women who had homosexual relations did not consider themselves to be 'homosexual'. Due to the exchanges between the West and Middle East, the idea of "homosexuality" was introduced to Middle Eastern regions and these people were then encouraged to associate themselves with new labels, such as "gay", "lesbian", "straight", and more. Before the use of these labels, people did not categorize their sexuality in that way. [41]

The Middle East today

In Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Yemen, the laws state that if a person is found guilty of engaging in same-sex sexual behavior, the death penalty would be applied. [42] According to Country Reports of the US Department of State, in Saudi Arabia there are no established LGBT organizations. Furthermore, reports of official and social discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation remains unclear because of strong social pressure of not to discuss LGBT matters. [43] In Iraq, homosexuality is not de jure punishable by law but LGBT people can be charged under public indecency law 401. [44] Which penalizes anything deemed contrary to public decency or morality with up to 6 months imprisonment and fines. People also face vigilante execution, beatings, torture, and attacks by vigilantes and Sharia courts. [45]

Jordan and Bahrain are the only Arab countries where homosexuality is legal; [46] some Middle Eastern nations have some tolerance and legal protections for transsexual and transgender people. For example, the Iranian government has approved sex change operations under medical approval. The Syrian government has approved similar operations back in 2011. [47] LGBT rights movements have existed in other Middle Eastern nations, including Turkey and Lebanon. However, in both Turkey and Lebanon, changes have been slow and recent crackdown on LGBT oriented events have raised concerns about the freedom of association and expression of LGBT people and organizations. [48] [49]

Orthodox Jewish protesters holding Anti-LGBT Protest signs during the Gay Pride parade in Haifa, Israel (2010) Homophobic protestors-02. Haifa 2010.jpg
Orthodox Jewish protesters holding Anti-LGBT Protest signs during the Gay Pride parade in Haifa, Israel (2010)
Image of Gay Pride flag in Jerusalem Image of Gay Pride flag in Jerusalem.jpg
Image of Gay Pride flag in Jerusalem
Image of a Gay Pride flag and the Star of David combined. Image of Gay Pride flag and Star of David.jpg
Image of a Gay Pride flag and the Star of David combined.

Israel is a notable exception, being the most supportive towards LGBT rights and recognizing unregistered cohabitation. Israel also allows transgender individuals to legally change their gender without surgery. [50] Transgender individuals can serve openly in the Israel Defense Forces. [51]

There are different legal systems in Palestine. On September 18, 1936, the criminal code of Mandatory Palestine, British Mandate Criminal Code, which drew from Ottoman law or English law, [52] was enacted. Section 152(1)(b)(c) of the code states that any person who "commits an act of sodomy with any person against his will by the use of force or threats" or "commits an act of sodomy with a child under the age of sixteen years" is liable for imprisonment up to 14 years, while Section 152(2)(b) states that anyone who has "carnal knowledge" of anyone acting "against the law of nature" is liable for a prison term up to 10 years. [53] Palestinian academic Sa'ed Atshan argued that this criminal code was an example of British export of homophobia to the Global South. [54] The present applicability of this law is disputed. The Human Dignity Trust states that the criminal code is still "in operation" in Gaza albeit with scarce evidence of its enforcement, [55] while Amnesty International does not report same-sex sexual activity as being illegal in any Palestinian territory, but emphasizes that Palestinian authorities do not stop, prevent or investigate homophobic and transphobic threats and attacks. [56] The editor-in-chief of the Palestinian Yearbook of International Law, Anis. F. Kassim argued that the criminal code could be "interpreted as allowing homosexuality." [57]

The decriminalization of homosexuality in Palestine is a patchwork. On the one hand, the British Mandate Criminal Code was in force in Jordan until 1951, with the Jordanian Penal Code having "no prohibition on sexual acts between persons of the same sex," which applied to the West Bank, while Israel stopped using the code in 1977. [58] On the other, the Palestinian Authority has not legislated either for or against homosexuality. Legalistically, the confused legal legacy of foreign occupation – Ottoman, British, Jordanian, Egyptian and Israeli – continues to determine the erratic application or non-application of the criminal law to same-sex activity and gender variance in each of the territories. [59] A correction issued by the Associated Press in August 2015 stated that homosexuality is not banned, by law in the Gaza Strip or West Bank, but is "largely taboo," and added "there are no laws specifically banning homosexual acts." [60]

Arab and Muslim views of homosexuality as a purely "Western" creation have been explored in the film Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the Developing World . The starting line of the dialogue spoken by an as yet unseen gay Egyptian man stating "I was accused of being Westernized." [61]

A report of Human Rights Watch in relation to LGBT rights in the Middle East notes:

In a few places, like Egypt and Morocco, sexual orientation and gender identity issues have begun to enter the agendas of some mainstream human rights movements. Now, unlike in earlier years, there are lawyers to defend people when they are arrested, and voices to speak up in the press. These vital developments were not won through identity politics. Those have misfired disastrously as a way of claiming rights in much of the Middle East; the urge of some western LGBT activists to unearth and foster ‘gay’ politics in the region is potentially deeply counterproductive. Rather, the mainstreaming was won largely by framing the situations of LGBT (or otherwise-identified) people in terms of the rights violations, and protections, that existing human rights movements understand. (Human Rights Watch 2009, p. 18) [62]

Although many Middle Eastern countries have penal codes against homosexual acts, these are seldom enforced due to the difficulty to prove unless caught in the act. In the Middle East today many countries still do not have codification of homosexuality or queerness as an identification of sexual orientation. [63] In Saudi Arabia, gender segregation is practiced to uphold the purity of women, because this separation exists some women and men will openly seek homosexual companionship in open spaces like coffee shops, public bathrooms, their cars, and their households. To navigate their own sexuality many men who engage in homosexual acts in Saudi Arabia do not deem the acts to be homosexual unless they are a bottom, which is a sexual position deemed to be more feminine while a top is deemed to be masculine. [64]

In Iran there is a strict gender binary. The government enforces the gender binary by suppressing information about homosexuality and encouraging people questioning their sexuality to undergo sex reassignment surgery. Since the sex reassignment surgery is accepted by the government and religious institutions along with obtaining funding from the government for the surgery many Iranians who are attracted to the same sex see this as a way to be public about their sexual orientation without being persecuted by the government. [63] Since being homosexual is not an option presented to Iranians, there has been a surge in the amount of Iranians who undergo gender reassignment surgery when their sexual orientation is towards the same sex. Sex reassignment surgery is encouraged by clerics, psychologists, and the government as homosexuality is illegal and punishable by imprisonment, lashing or execution. [65] This has led to a bolstering transgender community in Iran as homosexuality has been removed from society as an identity leading homosexuals and transsexuals to all seek gender reassignment surgery. The people who undergo these surgeries are fully accepted by the government but families still often reject family members who undergo sex reassignment surgery. Family members are a primary resource for job acquisition in Iran. Without a social network to call on for job leads it is increasingly difficult to find work, and transsexuals are discriminated against in the job market forcing them into sex work. [66]

Qatar, however, has modified the LGBT laws in the wake of 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament. Homosexuality is a criminal offence in Qatar, yet the Arab nation stated that LGBT fans would be welcome to the biggest sports event. In May 2022, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani stated "everyone is welcome" to attend the FIFA World Cup 2022 event in Qatar, including the LGBTQ fans. [67] "We will not stop anybody from coming and enjoying the football. But I also want everybody to come and understand and enjoy our culture. We welcome everybody, but also we expect and we want people to respect our culture", he said.

Qatar aimed to host the FIFA World Cup tournament in a welcoming and safe manner with the football fans and LGBTQ+ fans. According to Numbeo Crime Index by Country 2022, out of 142 surveyed nations, Qatar has maintained its position as the 'Safest Country' in the world. [68] Although the European teams competing at the 2022 Qatar World Cup walked back their plans to wear OneLovearmbands in support of LGBTQ rights during the tournament, following warnings from international soccer governing body FIFA that they would be penalized for doing so. [69]

The Ministry of Education in UAE approved a code of conduct that prohibits education professionals from discussing "gender identity, homosexuality or any other behavior deemed unacceptable to the UAE's society" in their respective classes. A majority of education professionals working at the Emirati institutions are foreign nationals employed as English language teacher. The ruling could affect a majority of its recipients in the Gulf state. As far as homosexuals maintain a low profile in the UAE, they have remained safe from legal scrutiny. [70]

Regional LGBT organizations and solidarity groups

Listed below are a few ally organizations that aim to help and support LGBT people in the Middle East. Other organizations with the same goal exist as well; however, these are the organizations that have made the most impact in the regions thus far.

Rainbow Street

Rainbow Street is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that is determined to help LGBT people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by providing support to those who experience systemic oppression and persecution due to their gender identity and/or sexual orientation. The organization aims to provide queer and trans people with the necessary resources needed to ensure they have access to safe, discrete and capable providers. [71]

OutRight Action International

OutRight is a NGO that promotes human rights of LGBT people around the world, including in the Middle East. The organization focuses more on Iraq, Iran, and Turkey, but also partners with other groups in the region in order to listen to local LGBT activists, and advocate on their behalf at the United Nations. [72] The partnerships include organizations in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Kuwait, Oman and Lebanon. The organization works with these groups on "different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security." [73] The largest project that they have is in Iran which is focused on assistance to the LGBT community in Iran. In order to counter prejudiced views in the media, provide necessary legal and religious frameworks that promote tolerance and in an effort to make their research accessible OutRight Action International created a wide range of resources in Persian. [73]

OutRight has a significant program in the organization called LBQ Connect which aims provide for support for "lesbian, bisexual and queer activism around the world." Due to the marginalization of women who identify as queer, bisexual or lesbian as well as trans and nonbinary people, the organization centers these people in their framework in effort to provide support and resources. OutRight seeks to challenge prejudice, violence and discrimination experienced by those who identify as LGBT throughout the world and providing these individuals with training and monetary resources to strengthen their skills and improve research. The research conducted influences changes in the LBQ program and overall advocacy agenda of the organization. [73]

Helem

Helem (Arabic: حلم) is an NGO based in Lebanon, established in the 2000s, that has the main goal of annulling article 534 in Lebanon's Penal Code which punishes "unnatural sexual intercourse", particularly sexual relations involve anal sex. [37] The organization was the first of its kind within the Arab World. Helem is an acronym for Himaya Lubnaniya lil Mithliyeen wal Mithliyat, which translates to "Lebanese protection for gays and lesbians". The acronym itself means "dream". [37] The Penal Code is most commonly used to target people that do not conform to society's gender binary system. Individuals who express gender non-conformity are punished not only through the Penal Code but also in the interest of maintaining public morality. Helem's other goals include making Lebanese society more aware about the AIDS epidemic and other sexually transmitted diseases in the country and advocating for the rights of Lebanese LGBT individuals. Helem also allows allies to access membership to the organization. [74] Although Helem was started to address the rights of the LGBT Community, it has incorporated social work into the organization's mission. The organization advocates for marginalized communities throughout Lebanon and the Arab World. Helem seeks to "work not only on issues related to identity and civil/political rights, but also prioritize social and economic rights by leveraging law, development, and community mobilization as tools for equality and liberation. [75]

The focus on marginalized communities sparked outrage throughout Lebanon when Helem invited people who weren't of Lebanese nationality into the organization during the Cedar Revolution. Helem supports and advocates for domestic workers and refugees, including those who have left their home countries in fear of discrimination due to their sexual orientation. [37] In 2006, Helem joined Samidoun, to continue their work of advocating for refugees and those affected by war. Helem created an annual event called "international day against homophobia" (IDAHO) and the first event took place in May 2005. The organization has faced scrutiny and obstacles from the government and members of the community whilst trying to carry out their mission. A longstanding belief throughout the community is that Helem is trying to impose Western imperialism and ideals in Lebanon and throughout the Arab World. [37]

Majal

Majal is an NGO in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that was established in Bahrain in 2016, and it focuses on "amplifying underrepresented voices". Majal "translates to opportunity or to give away" in Arabic. The organization centers the rights of different marginalized groups throughout MENA, including the LGBT community. Majal provides various platforms that focus on distributing information, resources and having community led discussion to highlight the experiences of marginalized groups. [76] Ahwaa is a platform on Majal that provides LGBT people in MENA a digital space to have discussions through game mechanics. The space uses avatars that protect users from disclosing their identities in an effort to reduce discrimination and persecution and to promote conversations regarding gender identity and sexual orientation. When users exhibit positive contributions and are supported by their peers, they gain more access to the platform. This system protects users from individuals that are using the platform to cause harm to others. [77]

Laws

This section is by no means exhaustive, and does not cover every particular law pertaining to LGBT rights. This is partly due to the non-existence of these laws in some Middle Eastern States, and also due to the laws being available in Arabic.

Examples of laws regarding homosexual orientation or transgender/non-binary identity [78]
CountryHomosexuality legal statusLaws regarding same-sex behaviorLaws regarding being transgender or non-binary
Bahrain Yes check.svg The penal code does not prohibit private, non-commercial acts of homosexuality between consenting adults, although "adults" for the purposes of that law are at least 21 years old. There are several other parts of the penal code that can be used against LGBT people which can result in 15 years in prison with fines. According to the Human Rights Watch, the government of Bahrain has also charged citizens for acts of "indecency" and "immorality".Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male.
Cyprus Yes check.svg Homosexual activities are legal in Cyprus, and civil unions have been legal since December 2015.
Egypt Yes check.svg / X mark.svg Although the contemporary Egyptian law does not explicitly criminalize same-sex sexual acts, LGBT people can be charged under morality laws of Article 9 of the Law 10/1961 on the Combating of Prostitution punishes anyone who "habitually engages in debauchery or prostitution", or who offers, owns, or manages establishments for the purpose of such activities, with up to three years in prison and a fine up to 300 Egyptian pounds (US$17).Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male.
Iran X mark.svg Felony –Lesbians, gays and bisexuals in Iran face execution, imprisonment, lashings, fines.Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male. Transgender people are allowed to change their legal gender through a sex reassignment surgery since 1987, which is partially paid for by the government.
Iraq Yes check.svg / X mark.svg Although homosexuality itself is technically legal since 2003, [44] [79] LGBT people can be charged under public indecency law 401. [44] Which penalizes anything contrary to public decency or morality with up to 6 months in prison plus fines. [80] Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male.
Israel Yes check.svg The law protects LGBT individuals; any violent crime motivated by sexual orientation is considered a hate crime. [81]
Jordan Yes check.svg Jordan does not criminalize consensual adult homosexual intercourse.Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male.
Kuwait X mark.svg Felony – Men can be sentenced to up to seven years of imprisonment under Article 193 of Kuwait's Penal Code for same-sex relations.Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male.
Lebanon Yes check.svg / X mark.svg Under Section 534 of the Lebanese Criminal Code, "any sexual intercourse contrary to the order of nature" is punishable with up to a year in prison. However, this law is rarely enforced. In 2019, it was ruled that homosexuality is not punishable by law. In 2013, Lebanon became the first Arab country to declassify homosexuality as a disease. Conversion therapy isn't outlawed, but it is discouraged and unsupported by the government. Various LGBT organizations exist in Lebanon. See LGBT rights in Lebanon .Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male. However, sex reassignment therapy has been legal since 2016.
Oman X mark.svg Felony – Any sexual act occurring between people of the same sex is punishable with imprisonment, varying from six months to three years, under Article 262 of Oman's latest penal code (promulgated in January 2018).Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male.
Palestine Yes check.svg / Question mark.svg The Gaza Strip and the West Bank are governed by different penal codes. There is no consensus as to whether Gaza still follows the 1936 British Mandate Criminal Code Ordinance, [55] [56] [57] [58] with provisions which punish homosexual conduct with prison sentences ranging from 10 to 14 years depending on the offense. [53] The West Bank on the other hand follows the Jordanian Penal Code of 1951, which, as previously stated, does not incriminate same-sex sexual acts.Both Gaza and the West Bank do not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male.
Qatar X mark.svg Felony – inducing or seducing a male or a female anyhow to commit illegal or immoral actions" is punishable by up to three years.Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male.
Saudi Arabia X mark.svg Saudi Arabia has no written laws but penalizes LGBT activity with up to death.Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male.
Syria X mark.svg Felony – Article 520 of Syria's Penal Code criminalizes "unnatural sexual intercourse", and Article 517 punishes any crime "against public decency" occurring in public with a prison sentence varying from three months to three years.Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male.
Turkey Yes check.svg Same-sex sexual intercourse have been legal in Turkey since 1858 under the Ottoman Empire.Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male. Transgender people have been allowed to change their legal gender since 1988.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) X mark.svg Dubai's penal code criminalizes sodomy with up to 10 years in prison. [82] In addition, Abu Dhabi's penal code criminalizes unnatural sex acts with up to 14 years in prison.Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male.
Yemen X mark.svg Article 268 of the national penal code prohibits private consensual homosexual acts between adult men.The stipulated punishment in the law for unmarried men is 100 lashes and up to a year in prison. The law stipulates that married men convicted of homosexuality are to be put to death by stoning. Article 268 of the national penal code prohibits private consensual homosexual acts between adult women with a penalty of up to three years in prison. [83] [84] [82] Does not acknowledge any gender identity other than female and male.

Social context and extrajudicial violence

Beyond the sphere of legislative politics, individuals who practice behaviors that can be considered LGBTQ and/or people who directly identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or queer often face profound social consequences due to this designation falling outside of the cultural "normal". These consequences can include negative repercussions in one's family life and social marginalization, as well as direct violence and even honor killings. Discrimination towards LGBTQ people is therefore not only a legal matter but a social and cultural phenomenon that must be understood beyond just the letter of the law as it is codified. Due to the power dynamics specific to societies in the Middle East today, one must therefore look not only to law but also to social norms and cultural practices in order to understand the state of LGBTQ rights in the region. As put by Sabiha Allouche, Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of London SOAS, the traditional "formulation of the legal sphere" throughout the history of queer advocacy in the West is "not necessarily applicable to contexts where penal codes often intertwine with further regulatory systems, including religion, customs, traditions, and kin-based patterns of governance." [85] The elitism and jargon endemic to the NGO-ization of human rights advocacy in the region can actually impede the endeavors of these organization, in that NGO-ization causes the work of local activists to be perceived as systematic colonial intervention from the west. [85]

As happens in European and North American nations, interpretations of religious doctrine are commonly used as justifications for violence and exclusion of gay people from society. Christian populations in the Middle East persecute gay people as well, demonstrating that cultural customs may play a role as much as religion. The centrality of heterosexual family structures to social and religious rituals can also lead to heightened scrutiny from people in one's own family.

Due to the illegality and stigma around people who identify as LGBT, there is a dearth in the quantity of credible data collected regarding violence and discrimination that LGBT individuals face on a daily basis. However, a report written by Outright International submitted to UNHRC regarding violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Iraq has found that despite LGBT rights being protected by the law, there exists no feasible legal recourse for victims of such hate crimes. [86]

Censorship

Films

Due to homosexuality laws, many films with LGBT characters or themes have been banned in many Middle Eastern countries, especially in the Gulf states. Below are some notable examples.

FilmYearBanned inNotes and references
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 2022 Kuwait (uncut version)The film was cut for release in Kuwait. [87]
Bros 2022—Not officially banned, but was not screened or released in Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates. [88]
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 2022 Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia [89]
Eternals 2021 Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar [90]
Everything Everywhere All At Once 2022 Kuwait and Saudi Arabia [91]
Lightyear 2022 Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia [92] and the United Arab Emirates Also banned in several other countries. [93] Despite petitions requesting bans in the remaining Arab nations, countries such as Morocco refused to ban the film and even showed it in cinemas. [94] [95]
Onward 2020 Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia Showed in cinemas elsewhere, including in Bahrain, Egypt and Lebanon. [96]
Thor: Love and Thunder 2022 Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia Banned in all Gulf states except the United Arab Emirates. [97] Also banned in Malaysia. [98]
West Side Story 2021 Kuwait and Saudi Arabia [99]

Public opinion

A Pew Research Center survey conducted in found that over 80% of people polled rejected homosexuality as "morally unacceptable". [39] Those who do identify with the LGBTQ community live in hiding due to the fear of backlash and punishment. While some are comfortable to attend LGBTQ themed events, many will wear masks to cover their identities. [100]

On 22 February 2022, Ubisoft announced to withdraw the Six Invitational 2022 tournament from being held in the UAE, days after its LGBTQ+ personnel, players and fan base protested against the selection of the country for the event. The event was officially moved from the UAE due to the acute criticism of its treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The Rainbow Six Siege tournament, a game that features LGBTQ+ characters, is held thrice every year. [101]

Acceptance as a practice

Is homosexuality an acceptable practice?
CountryYes (%)No/unsure/didn't answer (%)
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 26%74%
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 21%79%
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 17%83%
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 7%93%
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 7%93%
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 6%94%
Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 5%95%
Source: Arab Barometer (2018-2019)

Acceptance by society

Should homosexuality be accepted by society?
CountryYes (%)No (%)
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 47%45%
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 13%85%
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 9%72%
Source: Pew Research Center (2020)

Acceptance as neighbours

Below is a table of attitudes towards homosexuals as neighbours in the Middle East, according to a World Values Survey from 2017 to 2020. [102]

Would you accept a homosexual neighbour?
CountryYes (%)No (%)
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 52%48%
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 45%55%
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 40%55%
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 16%84%
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 6%94%
Source: World Values Survey (2017-2020)

Justifiability

Can homosexuality be justified?
CountryYes (%)No (%)
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 5%79%
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 4%56%
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 1%94%
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 1%95%
Source: World Values Survey (2017-2020)

Perceived acceptance

Is the city or area you live in a good place for homosexuals?
CountryYes (%)No (%)
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 38%49%
Flag of Syria.svg  Syria 36%51%
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 4%62%
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 12%81%
Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 6%80%
Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania 5%91%
Source: Gallup (2013)

See also

LGBT rights by country

Related Research Articles

Within the Muslim world, sentiment towards LGBT people varies and has varied between societies and individual Muslims, but is contemporarily quite negative. While colloquial, and in many cases, de facto official acceptance of at least some homosexual behavior was commonplace in pre-modern periods, later developments, starting from the 19th-century, have created a generally hostile environment for LGBT people. Most Muslim-majority countries have opposed moves to advance LGBT rights and recognition at the United Nations (UN), including within the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights opposition</span> Opposition to legal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people

LGBT rights opposition is the opposition to legal rights, proposed or enacted, for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Laws that LGBT rights opponents may be opposed to include civil unions or partnerships, LGBT parenting and adoption, military service, access to assisted reproductive technology, and access to sex reassignment surgery and hormone replacement therapy for transgender individuals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Iran</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Iran face severe challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Sexual activity between members of the same sex is illegal and can be punishable by death, and people can legally change their assigned sex only through a sex reassignment surgery. Currently, Iran is the only country confirmed to execute gay people, though death penalty for homosexuality might be enacted in Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Iraq</span>

In Iraq, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) individuals are subject to criminal penalties under the 2024 law making homosexual relations punishable by up to 15 years in prison with fines and deportation; the 2024 law also criminalizes and makes punishable by prison time promoting homosexuality, doctors performing gender-affirming surgery, and men deliberately acting like women. Discrimination is also widespread. Openly gay men are not permitted to serve in the military and same-sex marriage or civil unions are illegal. LGBT people do not have any legal protections against discrimination and are frequently victims of vigilante justice and honor killings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Saudi Arabia</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Saudi Arabia face repression and discrimination. The government of Saudi Arabia provides no legal protections for LGBT rights. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal within the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Afghanistan</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan face severe challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Afghan members of the LGBT community are forced to keep their gender identity and sexual orientation secret, in fear of violence and the death penalty. The religious nature of the country has limited any opportunity for public discussion, with any mention of homosexuality and related terms deemed taboo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Bahrain</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people living in Bahrain face legal challenges and discrimination not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Vague laws against indecency are used to target gender and sexual minorities and allow up to a sentence of up to 17 years in prison with fines and deportation. Discussion of homosexuality has also been allowed in Bahrain since the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Egypt</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Egypt face severe challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. There are reports of widespread discrimination and violence towards openly LGBT people within Egypt, with police frequently prosecuting gay and transgender individuals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Lebanon</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people living in Lebanon may face discrimination and legal difficulties not experienced by non-LGBT residents and are heavily looked down upon by society. Various courts have ruled that Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code, which prohibits having sexual relations that "contradict the laws of nature", should not be used to arrest LGBT people. Nonetheless, the law is still being used to harass and persecute LGBT people through occasional police arrests, in which detainees are sometimes subject to intrusive physical examinations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in the United Arab Emirates</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the United Arab Emirates face discrimination and legal challenges. Homosexuality is illegal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and under the federal criminal provisions, consensual same-sex sexual activity is punishable by imprisonment; extra-marital sexual activity between persons of different sexes is also illegal. In both cases, prosecution will only be brought if a husband or male guardian of one of the participants makes a criminal complaint. The penalty is a minimum of six months imprisonment; no maximum penalty is prescribed, and the court has full discretion to impose any sentence in accordance with the country's constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Pakistan</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Pakistan face legal and social difficulties compared to non-LGBT persons. Pakistani law prescribes criminal penalties for same-sex sexual acts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Kazakhstan</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Kazakhstan face significant challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female kinds of same-sex sexual activity are legal in Kazakhstan, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Qatar</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Qatar experience legal persecution. Sexual acts between males are illegal in Qatar, with punishment for both Muslims and non-Muslims of up to three years in prison. For Muslims duly convicted in the sharia courts, a judicial sentence of capital punishment for homosexuality is a possibility, though it has never been imposed. Abuse such as beatings and torture, and forced "conversion therapy" have also been used by police and other authorities. There is no explicit corresponding prohibition of consensual sex between women, although sharia disallows sexual activity outside of marriage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Asia</span>

Laws governing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights are complex in Asia, and acceptance of LGBT persons is generally low. Same-sex sexual activity is outlawed in at least twenty Asian countries. In Afghanistan, Brunei, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen homosexual activity is punishable by death. In addition, LGBT people also face extrajudicial executions from non-state actors such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. While egalitarian relationships have become more frequent in recent years, they remain rare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helem</span> LGBTQIA+ rights NGO in Lebanon

Helem is the first LGBTQIA+ rights non-governmental organization in the Arab world, founded in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2001. Its mission is to lead a non-violent struggle for the liberation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other persons with non-conforming sexualities and/or gender identities (LGBTQIA+) in Lebanon and the MENA region from all sorts of violations of their individual and collective civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. Helem’s name was also an acronym in Arabic that stood for “Lebanese protection for the LGBT community”.

The history of LGBT people in Iran spans thousands of years. Homosexuality has been viewed as a sin in Islam, and is outlawed in almost all Muslim-majority countries, including Iran. In pre-Islamic Iran, a tradition of homosexuality existed, however most were intolerant of pederasty and sexual activity between two men, especially the Zoroastrians. According to Ammianus Marcellinus, Iranians were “far from immoral relations with boys”.

LGBTQ have a long history of persecution in Pakistan.

Georges Azzi is the co-founder of Helem, a Lebanese non-profit organisation working on improving the legal and social status of LGBT people, and is the executive director of the Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capital punishment for homosexuality</span> Death penalty for same-sex sexual activity

Capital punishment as a criminal punishment for homosexuality has been implemented by a number of countries in their history. It currently remains a legal punishment in several countries and regions, most of which have sharia–based criminal laws, except for Uganda.

Censorship of LGBT issues is practised by some countries around the world. They may take a variety of forms, including anti-LGBT curriculum laws in some states of the United States, the Russian gay propaganda law, and the Hungarian anti-LGBT law, and laws in Muslim-majority states such as Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Malaysia prohibiting advocacy that offends Islamic morality.

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