Entry #12271: Censorship of LGBT Issues in Kuwait

Current Version

RegionKuwait
IssueCensorship of LGBT Issues
StatusState-enforced
Start DateFeb 16, 2022
End Datenow
DescriptionThe Kuwaiti Constitutional Court has overturned Article 198 of the Penal Code, which criminalized “imitation of the opposite sex”, because it violates Article 30 of the constitution that guarantees personal freedom. However, there's still censorship of LGBT issues under Article 21 of the Press and Publications Law (Law No. 3) (2006), which prohibits the publication of anything that would insult public morals. This law was extended to include online publications under the Law Regulating Electronic Media (Law No. 8) (2016). In August 2023, Kuwait and Lebanon banned the 'Barbie' movie, claiming it "promoted homosexuality."
Sourceshttps://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/02/kuwait-overturning-law-that-criminalized-imitation-of-the-opposite-sex-a-breakthrough-for-transgender-rights/ https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-08-10/barbie-movie-banned-lebanon-kuwait https://web.archive.org/web/20220216203214/https://www.cck.moj.gov.kw/ar/news/Pages/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=28 https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_World_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_report_global_legislation_overview_update_December_2020.pdf (page 155)
Reports (1)
  • Note field is incorrect "Lebanon did not ban the movie."


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Revision History (2)

edited by danlev. Adding barbie censorship

Old Value (Original) New Value (Current)
DescriptionThe Kuwaiti Constitutional Court has overturned Article 198 of the Penal Code, which criminalized “imitation of the opposite sex”, because it violates Article 30 of the constitution that guarantees personal freedom.

However, there's still censorship of LGBT issues under Article 21 of the Press and Publications Law (Law No. 3) (2006), which prohibits the publication of anything that would insult public morals.
This law was extended to include online publications under the Law Regulating Electronic Media (Law No. 8) (2016).
The Kuwaiti Constitutional Court has overturned Article 198 of the Penal Code, which criminalized “imitation of the opposite sex”, because it violates Article 30 of the constitution that guarantees personal freedom.

However, there's still censorship of LGBT issues under Article 21 of the Press and Publications Law (Law No. 3) (2006), which prohibits the publication of anything that would insult public morals.

This law was extended to include online publications under the Law Regulating Electronic Media (Law No. 8) (2016).

In August 2023, Kuwait and Lebanon banned the 'Barbie' movie, claiming it "promoted homosexuality."
Show Difference
The Kuwaiti Constitutional Court has overturned Article 198 of the Penal Code, which criminalized “imitation of the opposite sex”, because it violates Article 30 of the constitution that guarantees personal freedom. However, there's still censorship of LGBT issues under Article 21 of the Press and Publications Law (Law No. 3) (2006), which prohibits the publication of anything that would insult public morals. This law was extended to include online publications under the Law Regulating Electronic Media (Law No. 8) (2016). morals. This law was extended to include online publications under the Law Regulating Electronic Media (Law No. 8) (2016). In August 2023, Kuwait and Lebanon banned the 'Barbie' movie, claiming it "promoted homosexuality."
Sourceshttps://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/02/kuwait-overturning-law-that-criminalized-imitation-of-the-opposite-sex-a-breakthrough-for-transgender-rights/

https://web.archive.org/web/20220216203214/https://www.cck.moj.gov.kw/ar/news/Pages/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=28

https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_World_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_report_global_legislation_overview_update_December_2020.pdf (page 155)
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/02/kuwait-overturning-law-that-criminalized-imitation-of-the-opposite-sex-a-breakthrough-for-transgender-rights/
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-08-10/barbie-movie-banned-lebanon-kuwait
https://web.archive.org/web/20220216203214/https://www.cck.moj.gov.kw/ar/news/Pages/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=28

https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_World_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_report_global_legislation_overview_update_December_2020.pdf (page 155)
Show Difference
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/02/kuwait-overturning-law-that-criminalized-imitation-of-the-opposite-sex-a-breakthrough-for-transgender-rights/ https://web.archive.org/web/20220216203214/https://www.cck.moj.gov.kw/ar/news/Pages/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=28 https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_World_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_report_global_legislation_overview_update_December_2020.pdf (page 155) https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/02/kuwait-overturning-law-that-criminalized-imitation-of-the-opposite-sex-a-breakthrough-for-transgender-rights/ https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-08-10/barbie-movie-banned-lebanon-kuwait https://web.archive.org/web/20220216203214/https://www.cck.moj.gov.kw/ar/news/Pages/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=28 https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_World_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_report_global_legislation_overview_update_December_2020.pdf (page 155)

created by Markissik

Original entry
StatusState-enforced
Start DateFeb 16, 2022
End Datenow
DescriptionThe Kuwaiti Constitutional Court has overturned Article 198 of the Penal Code, which criminalized “imitation of the opposite sex”, because it violates Article 30 of the constitution that guarantees personal freedom. However, there's still censorship of LGBT issues under Article 21 of the Press and Publications Law (Law No. 3) (2006), which prohibits the publication of anything that would insult public morals. This law was extended to include online publications under the Law Regulating Electronic Media (Law No. 8) (2016).
Sourceshttps://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/02/kuwait-overturning-law-that-criminalized-imitation-of-the-opposite-sex-a-breakthrough-for-transgender-rights/ https://web.archive.org/web/20220216203214/https://www.cck.moj.gov.kw/ar/news/Pages/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=28 https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_World_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_report_global_legislation_overview_update_December_2020.pdf (page 155)