Current Version
| Region | Kuwait |
| Issue | Same-sex marriage |
| Status | Banned |
| Start Date | Oct 1984 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | In 1984, the Kuwaiti Personal Status Law (1984) came into effect, and Article 1 defined marriage as a contract between a man and a woman. From August 1990 until February 1991, Kuwait was under Iraqi control. As such, Iraq's Personal Status Law (1959) was in effect, and Article 3 also defined marriage as a contract between a man and a woman. After liberation from Iraq, Kuwait reinstated its 1984 Personal Status Law, which continues to define marriage in heterosexual terms. |
| Sources | https://www.musawah.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kuwait-Overview-Table.pdf https://campaignforjustice.musawah.org/repository/kuwait/ https://www.britannica.com/list/persian-gulf-war-timeline https://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/lawref_iraqpersonalstatuslaw1959_aba_0.pdf |
Revision History (3)
edited by Unknownmiles. fixing info and links
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | (unknown) | Oct 1984 |
| Description | Article 1 of the Kuwaiti Personal Status Law (1984) defines marriage as a contract between a man and a woman who is legally available to him, for the purpose of cohabitation, matrimony and strengthening the power of the nation. | In 1984, the Kuwaiti Personal Status Law (1984) came into effect, and Article 1 defined marriage as a contract between a man and a woman. From August 1990 until February 1991, Kuwait was under Iraqi control. As such, Iraq's Personal Status Law (1959) was in effect, and Article 3 also defined marriage as a contract between a man and a woman. After liberation from Iraq, Kuwait reinstated its 1984 Personal Status Law, which continues to define marriage in heterosexual terms. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://www.musawah.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kuwait-Overview-Table-2022.pdf https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/kuwait#:~:text=The%20penal%20code%20criminalizes%20adultery,to%20seven%20years%20in%20prison. https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/kuwait/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/kuwait/ | https://www.musawah.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kuwait-Overview-Table.pdf https://campaignforjustice.musawah.org/repository/kuwait/ https://www.britannica.com/list/persian-gulf-war-timeline https://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/lawref_iraqpersonalstatuslaw1959_aba_0.pdf |
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| Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Unrecognized | Banned |
| Description | Homosexual Activity is illegal in Kuwait, same-sex marriage is not possible as defined as imprisonment up to 5 years. | Article 1 of the Kuwaiti Personal Status Law (1984) defines marriage as a contract between a man and a woman who is legally available to him, for the purpose of cohabitation, matrimony and strengthening the power of the nation. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/kuwait#:~:text=The%20penal%20code%20criminalizes%20adultery,to%20seven%20years%20in%20prison. https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/kuwait/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/kuwait/ | https://www.musawah.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kuwait-Overview-Table-2022.pdf https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/kuwait#:~:text=The%20penal%20code%20criminalizes%20adultery,to%20seven%20years%20in%20prison. https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/kuwait/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/kuwait/ |
Show Difference | ||
| Original entry | |
|---|---|
| Status | Unrecognized |
| Start Date | (unknown) |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Homosexual Activity is illegal in Kuwait, same-sex marriage is not possible as defined as imprisonment up to 5 years. |
| Sources | https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/kuwait#:~:text=The%20penal%20code%20criminalizes%20adultery,to%20seven%20years%20in%20prison. https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/kuwait/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/kuwait/ |