LGBTQ rights in Qatar
LGBTQ rights in Qatar  | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Status | Male illegal Female illegal |
| Penalty | Up to 5 years |
| Gender identity | – |
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons (LGBT) living in Qatar are likely to face certain challenges. Homosexual acts between adult females and adult males are both illegal.[1] There is no legal recognition of same-sex marriages, civil unions or domestic partnership benefits.
Privacy rights
Prior to 2004, Article 201 of the Penal Code punished sodomy between male consenting adults with up to five years imprisonment. Since the 1990s, there have been several reports of this law being enforced against non-citizens.[2]
For example, 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]
Since 2004, Article 296 of the current Penal Code (Law 11/2004)[5] stipulate imprisonment between 1 and 3 years for sodomy between men.
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.
FIFA 2022
In 2013, it was announced that all Gulf Cooperative Countries had agreed to establish some form of, yet unknown, testing in order to ban gay foreigners from entering any of the countries.[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 male 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]
In preparation for the FIFA games being held in Qatar, an advertising campaign has launched to educate expatriates and future FIFA tourists about proper clothing for men and women to wear in public [2].
Living conditions
LGBT people living in Qater tend to feel the need to be discreet about their sexual orientation or gender identity. No LGBT-rights movement exists. Within the area of the popular arts, some levels of tolerance for LGBT people are sometimes shown.
For example, in November 2008 George Michael performed at a successful concert in Qatar.
| Same-sex sexual activity legal | 
|
| 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 |
|
See also
References
- ^ http://archive.globalgayz.com/middle-east/qatar/gay-qatar-news-and-reports/
- ^ [1] Retrieved on 28 August 2007.[dead link]
- ^ The Cornell Daily Sun, Inc. 4 December 2002. "Qatar's Gay Rights Policy Under Scrutiny."
- ^ http://www.sodomylaws.org/world/qatar/qaeditorials01.htm[dead link]
- ^ "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.
- ^ http://lgbtweekly.com/2013/10/08/gulf-cooperation-countries-to-test-detect-then-ban-gays-from-entering-their-countries/
- ^ "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.
External links
 | This article about lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-related law is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This Qatar-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |