Gay Travel Advisories

Sexual acts between consenting adult males are criminalized in regions throughout the world. Please be aware of the following country and region-specific information:

• Asia
  • Afghanistan
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Gaza
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Kuwait
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Lebanon
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Myanmar
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Qatar

    Legal Code Summary

    Penal Code Law No. 11 from 2004

    Sources

    1. Text of the law is available at: https://www.unodc.org/res/cld/document/qat/penal-code_11_2004_html/2014_Penal_Code_Law_11_2004_26.pdf

    Legal Code Text

    Article 285 - “Whoever copulates with a male over sixteen years of age without compulsion, duress or ruse shall be punished with imprisonment for a term up to seven years. The same penalty shall apply to the male for his consent. The penalty shall be life imprisonment or a prison term not exceeding fifteen years if the offender is one of those previously mentioned in the second Paragraph of Article 279 of the present Law.”

    Article 296 - “Whoever commits the following offences shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of no less than one year and no more than three years: [...] Leading, instigating or seducing a male by in any way to commit sodomy or dissipation; Inducing or seducing a male or a female in any way to commit illegal or immoral actions.”

    ILGA Analysis & Notes

    Sexual acts with a female over the age of 16 are prohibited by Article 281, while sexual acts with a male are prohibited by article 281 and 285. The penalty is up to seven years imprisonment for both female and male acts.

    Sources

    1. See Amnesty International, “Love, hate and the law: decriminalizing homosexuality” at 51, available at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/POL30/003/2008/en/d77d0d58-4cd3-11dd-bca2-bb9d43f3e059/pol300032008eng.html

    2023-2024 Legal Developments

    Continues to criminalise under Penal Code (Law No. 11, 2004) Arts. 285/296/298. Multiple 2023-24 enforcement incidents documented, including entrapment via dating apps and dress-code-related detentions.

  • Saudi Arabia
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Sri Lanka
  • Syria
  • Turkmenistan
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Uzbekistan
  • Yemen
• Africa
• Latin America & Caribbean
• Europe
• Oceania