Gay Travel Advisory

Comoros

Penal Code of the F ederal Islamic Republic of Comoros from 1981

Sources
  1. Text of the law is available at: http://www.icla.up.ac.za/images/un/use-of-force/africa/Comoros/Penal%20Code%20Comoros%201981.pdf

Legal Code Text

Article 318(3) - “Without prejudice to the more serious penalties provided for in the preceding paragraphs or by articles 320 and 321 of this Code, whoever will have committed an improper or unnatural act with a person of the same sex will be punished by imprisonment of between one and five years and by a fine of 50,000 to 1,000,000 francs. If the act was committed with a minor, the maximum penalty will always be applied.”

Sources
  1. Original text: ”Sans préjudice des peines plus graves prévues par les alinéas qui précédent ou par les Articles 320 et 321 du présent code, sera puni d’un emprisonnement d’un à cinq ans et d’une amende de 50 000 à 1 000 000 francs, quiconque aura commis un acte impudique ou contre 65 nature avec un individu de son sexe. Si l’acte a été commis avec un mineur, le maximum de la peine sera toujours prononcé.”

ILGA Analysis & Notes

The Government of Comoros rejected its 2nd cycle UPR recommendations to “review provisions of the criminal law penalizing consensual same-sex activity between adults” (Czech Republic) and to “initiate a debate on the decriminalization of homosexuality” (Spain). The Netherlands reminded Comoros of its international law commitments by referring it to the Ofce of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report of 2011, and Brazil called for the country to “take step to avoid discrimination and violation of the human rights of the LGBT population”. The State responded (at para. 73) that there is no political energy (or “currently a political majority”) against this “invisible minority”, or will to change the law at this time.

No current law criminalises consensual same-sex acts. In April 2024, National Deputy Constant Mutamba circulated a draft bill to amend the Penal Code, proposing a new 'Homosexual Deviations' section criminalising consensual same-sex conduct; ILGA World could not confirm as of report cutoff whether the bill had been formally introduced in the National Assembly.