Gay Travel Advisory

Mauritania

Penal Code from 1984

Sources
  1. Text of the law is available at: http://www.droit-afrique.com/upload/doc/mauritanie/Mauritanie-Code-1983-penal.pdf

Legal Code Text

Article 308 - “Any adult Muslim man who commits an indecent act or an act against nature with an individual of his sex will face the penalty of death by public stoning. If it is a question of two women, they will be punished as prescribed in article 306, first paragraph [Three months to two years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 to 60,000 UM].”

Sources
  1. ‡ Unofficial translation
  2. Original text Article 308: ”Tout musulman majeur qui aura commis un acte impudique ou contre nature avec un individu de son sexe sera puni de peine de mort par lapidation publique. S’il s’agit de deux femmes, elles seront punies de la peine prévue à l’article 306, paragraphe premier.” Article 306 (1): “Toute personne qui aura commis un outrage public à la pudeur et aux mœurs islamiques ou a violé les lieux sacrés ou aidé à les violer, si cette action ne figure pas dans les crimes emportant la Ghissass ou la Diya, sera punie d’une peine correctionnelle de trois mois à deux ans d’emprisonnement et d’une amende de 5.000 à 60.000 UM.”

ILGA Analysis & Notes

Both in its 1st UPR (November 2010) and in its 2nd UPR (November 2015) sessions, Mauritania was urged to remove criminalisation of same-sex sexual relations. Importantly, in both the interactive dialogue and in written recommendations in 2015, it received numerous calls to uncouple the death penalty from same-sex sexual behavior. The State addressed the issues of death penalty by mentioning (at para. 54) that the country “had observed a de facto moratorium” for the past 28 years, but did not commit to remove it from the statute. It appears that the issue of criminalizing same sex sexual relations was not addressed despite various recommendations. However, the delegation indicated a wish to have the OHCHR work with them in-country (para.16), and: “[t]he delegation emphasised that the Government had cooperated with all partners in developing an action plan against racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance and in drafting a national strategy for promoting social cohesion”.

No current law criminalises consensual same-sex acts. Then-President Mohamed Bazoum announced in Jan. 2023 that a new Penal Code would explicitly criminalise homosexuality (life imprisonment/death penalty for same-sex marriage); the drafting committee proceeded through mid-2023. Following the July 2023 coup d'etat, the bill's status became uncertain, though the military junta has separately signalled opposition to any SOGIE-related expression.