LGBTQ rights in the Middle East

Common card · No. 261159

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people generally have limited or highly restrictive rights in most parts of West Asia, and are openly subjected to hostility in others. Same-sex behavior is punishable by imprisonment in five of the 18 countries in the region. It is also punishable by death in five of these 18 countries. The rights and freedoms of LGBTQ citizens are strongly influenced by the prevailing cultural traditions and religious mores of people living in the region – particularly Islam. All same-sex activity is legal in Bahrain, Cyprus, Northern Cyprus, Israel, the West Bank and Turkey. In Lebanon, various courts have ruled that the law criminalizing sexual acts which "contradict the laws of nature" cannot be used to arrest LGBT people. All same-sex activity is illegal and punishable by imprisonment in Iraq, Oman, Syria and the Gaza Strip. In Kuwait, only male homosexuality is illegal. In Egypt, while no specific law criminalizing same-sex sexual acts exists...

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