LGBT rights in Qatar
LGBT rights in Qatar  | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Same-sex sexual activity legal? |
Male illegal Female illegal |
Penalty: | Up to 7 years |
| Gender identity/expression | – |
Homosexual acts between adult females and adult males in public are both illegal in Qatar.[1] There is no legal recognition of same-sex marriages, civil unions or domestic partnership benefits.
In November 2008 George Michael performed at a successful concert in Qatar, despite being openly gay. However, most LGBT people living in Qatar run the risk of harassment, discrimination and even criminal sanctions if their sexual orientation or gender identity becomes publicly known. The government does not allow a visible LGBT community to exist, much less a LGBT-rights movement.
Criminal Code
Since 2004, Article 296 of the current Penal Code (Law 11/2004)[2] stipulate imprisonment between 1 and 3 years for sodomy between men. This is a slight revision of the original law that stipulated up to five years imprisonment for male homosexuality.
In 1995 an American citizen visiting Qatar was sentenced to six months in prison and 90 lashes for homosexual activity.[3] In the 1990s, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration informed Philippine workers that gay workers were prohibited in Qatar. This was in response to several mass arrests and deportations of Philippine workers in Qatar, for homosexuality.[4]
Article 296 of the Penal Code does not address sexual acts between women. However, gay or bisexual women living in Qatar could face criminal charges for violating other public morality laws, such as the ban on fornication or, if they are lawfully married, the ban on adultery.
Family law
No legal recognition exists in Qatar for same-sex marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships. Cohabitation is also illegal in Qatar.
2022 FIFA World Cup controversy
In September 2013, it was announced that all Gulf Cooperative Countries had agreed to discuss a proposal to establish some form of, yet unknown, testing in order to ban gay foreigners from entering any of the countries.[5][6]
Qatar's record on LGBT rights became a source of debate again, with gay rights groups criticizing FIFA for choosing to host the event in a country where homosexuality is illegal.[7] Richard de Mos, a member of the Dutch Parliament for the Freedom Party (PVV), has proposed that the Dutch football team play in pink, instead of the country's national colour, orange, to protest the gay rights situation in Qatar.[8]
Summary table
| Same-sex sexual activity legal |  (Penalty: Fines and up to 7 years imprisonment / Death penalty applies to Muslims only) |
| Equal age of consent | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in employment | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) | |
| Same-sex marriages | |
| Recognition of same-sex couples | |
| Step-child adoption by same-sex couples | |
| Joint adoption by same-sex couples | |
| Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly in the military | |
| Right to change legal gender | |
| Access to IVF for lesbians | |
| Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples | |
| MSMs allowed to donate blood | |
See also
References
- ↑ http://archive.globalgayz.com/middle-east/qatar/gay-qatar-news-and-reports/
- ↑ "الميزان - البوابة القانونية القطرية :: التشريعات :: قانون رقم (11) لسنة 2004 بإصدار قانون العقوبات :: التحريض على الفسق والفجور والبغاء :: 296". Almeezan.qa. 14 June 2004. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- ↑ The Cornell Daily Sun, Inc. 4 December 2002. "Qatar's Gay Rights Policy Under Scrutiny."
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20071021120730/http://www.sodomylaws.org/world/qatar/qaeditorials01.htm. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2007. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ http://lgbtweekly.com/2013/10/08/gulf-cooperation-countries-to-test-detect-then-ban-gays-from-entering-their-countries/
- ↑ Cavan Sieczkowski (10 September 2013). "Gulf Countries Propose Test To 'Detect' Gays, Ban Them From Entering". Huffington Post. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
- ↑ "BBC Sport - Football - Fifa boss Sepp Blatter sparks Qatar gay controversy". BBC News. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- ↑ "Expreszo | Headlinearchief". Expreszo.nl. Retrieved 15 October 2012.