Current Version
| Region | Syria |
| Issue | Homosexual activity |
| Status | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Start Date | 1949 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Article 520 of the Penal Code (1949) criminalizes “unnatural sexual intercourse.” Potential imprisonment of up to 3 years. Not enforced by regime. In 2003 Syria, at the UN Commission on Human Rights, voted to postpone a draft UN resolution on human rights and sexual orientation. The vote was 24 to 17. The draft resolution was to bring the Commission to express its deep concern at the occurrence of human rights violations worldwide against people on the basis of their sexual orientation; Stress that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings and that the universal character of these rights and freedoms is indisputable; and call on all States to promote and protect the fundamental rights of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation. |
| Sources | https://database.ilga.org/syria-lgbti https://harpers.org/archive/2016/02/we-dont-have-rights-but-we-are-alive/3/ |
Revision History (33)
edited by qcksws. Reverting to revision #41482: Syria has fallen but there is still much to wait
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Start Date | Dec 8, 2024 | 1949 |
| Description | Syrian law is being re-written with the new government after the Bashar Al-Assad Regime fell on December 8th 2024. | Article 520 of the Penal Code (1949) criminalizes “unnatural sexual intercourse.” Potential imprisonment of up to 3 years. Not enforced by regime. In 2003 Syria, at the UN Commission on Human Rights, voted to postpone a draft UN resolution on human rights and sexual orientation. The vote was 24 to 17. The draft resolution was to bring the Commission to express its deep concern at the occurrence of human rights violations worldwide against people on the basis of their sexual orientation; Stress that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings and that the universal character of these rights and freedoms is indisputable; and call on all States to promote and protect the fundamental rights of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation. |
Show Difference | ||
| Federal Law | Yes | No |
| Sources | https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-sweida-daraa-homs-hts-qatar-7f65823bbf0a7bd331109e8dff419430 | https://database.ilga.org/syria-lgbti https://harpers.org/archive/2016/02/we-dont-have-rights-but-we-are-alive/3/ |
Show Difference | ||
edited by Syrwatch. Government change, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham hasn't expressed any opinions about this topic so far
Helpful?
-1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | Ambiguous |
| Start Date | 1949 | Dec 8, 2024 |
| Description | Article 520 of the Penal Code (1949) criminalizes “unnatural sexual intercourse.” Potential imprisonment of up to 3 years. Not enforced by regime. In 2003 Syria, at the UN Commission on Human Rights, voted to postpone a draft UN resolution on human rights and sexual orientation. The vote was 24 to 17. The draft resolution was to bring the Commission to express its deep concern at the occurrence of human rights violations worldwide against people on the basis of their sexual orientation; Stress that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings and that the universal character of these rights and freedoms is indisputable; and call on all States to promote and protect the fundamental rights of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation. | Syrian law is being re-written with the new government after the Bashar Al-Assad Regime fell on December 8th 2024. |
Show Difference | ||
| Federal Law | No | Yes |
| Sources | https://database.ilga.org/syria-lgbti https://harpers.org/archive/2016/02/we-dont-have-rights-but-we-are-alive/3/ | https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-sweida-daraa-homs-hts-qatar-7f65823bbf0a7bd331109e8dff419430 |
Show Difference | ||
edited by Notdog1996. It's not legal, and even if a law is not enforced, if there's a law criminalizing homosexuality (or that heavily implies it) it counts
Helpful?
2 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Start Date | 2003 | 1949 |
| Description | In 2003 Syria, at the UN Commission on Human Rights, voted to postpone a draft UN resolution on human rights and sexual orientation. The vote was 24 to 17. The draft resolution urged the Commission to express its deep concern at the occurrence of human rights violations in the world against persons on grounds of their sexual orientation; Emphasize that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings and that the universal character of these rights and freedoms is indisputable; and call on all States to promote and protect the fundamental rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. | Article 520 of the Penal Code (1949) criminalizes “unnatural sexual intercourse.” Potential imprisonment of up to 3 years. Not enforced by regime. In 2003 Syria, at the UN Commission on Human Rights, voted to postpone a draft UN resolution on human rights and sexual orientation. The vote was 24 to 17. The draft resolution was to bring the Commission to express its deep concern at the occurrence of human rights violations worldwide against people on the basis of their sexual orientation; Stress that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings and that the universal character of these rights and freedoms is indisputable; and call on all States to promote and protect the fundamental rights of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation. |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Legal |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | Legal |
| Start Date | 1949 | 2003 |
| Description | Article 520 of the Penal Code (1949) criminalizes “unnatural sexual intercourse.” Potential imprisonment of up to 3 years. Not enforced by regime. In 2003 Syria, at the UN Commission on Human Rights, voted to postpone a draft UN resolution on human rights and sexual orientation. The vote was 24 to 17. The draft resolution was to bring the Commission to express its deep concern at the occurrence of human rights violations worldwide against people on the basis of their sexual orientation; Stress that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings and that the universal character of these rights and freedoms is indisputable; and call on all States to promote and protect the fundamental rights of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation. | In 2003 Syria, at the UN Commission on Human Rights, voted to postpone a draft UN resolution on human rights and sexual orientation. The vote was 24 to 17. The draft resolution urged the Commission to express its deep concern at the occurrence of human rights violations in the world against persons on grounds of their sexual orientation; Emphasize that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings and that the universal character of these rights and freedoms is indisputable; and call on all States to promote and protect the fundamental rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Misleading Information
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | Ambiguous |
| Description | Article 520 of the Penal Code (1949) criminalizes “unnatural sexual intercourse.” Potential imprisonment of up to 3 years. In 2003 Syria, at the UN Commission on Human Rights, voted to postpone a draft UN resolution on human rights and sexual orientation. The vote was 24 to 17. The draft resolution was to bring the Commission to express its deep concern at the occurrence of human rights violations worldwide against people on the basis of their sexual orientation; Stress that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings and that the universal character of these rights and freedoms is indisputable; and call on all States to promote and protect the fundamental rights of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation. | Article 520 of the Penal Code (1949) criminalizes “unnatural sexual intercourse.” Potential imprisonment of up to 3 years. Not enforced by regime. In 2003 Syria, at the UN Commission on Human Rights, voted to postpone a draft UN resolution on human rights and sexual orientation. The vote was 24 to 17. The draft resolution was to bring the Commission to express its deep concern at the occurrence of human rights violations worldwide against people on the basis of their sexual orientation; Stress that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings and that the universal character of these rights and freedoms is indisputable; and call on all States to promote and protect the fundamental rights of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation. |
Show Difference | ||
edited by danlev. Removing plagiarism. Merging language from other duplicate entry that has been deleted.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Article 520 of the Penal Code (1949) criminalises “unnatural sexual intercourse” with a potential imprisonment of up to 3 years. Additionally, Article 517 criminalises any “act against public decency" carried out in a public or open area. Such acts are punishable with imprisonment of up to 3 years. The parameters of criminalisation have at times expanded beyond the writ of the law, as a result of several armed conflicts having taken place in Syria since 2011. Human Rights Watch noted in 2020 that since the start of the Syrian civil war, persons of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities or expressions, especially men, boys and trans women, have faced extreme abuse and sexual violence at the hands of police and military personnel at checkpoints, and in detention centres. Additionally, a report published in June 2021 by the Center for Operational Analysis and Research (COAR Global) found that the risk of arbitrary detention is “omnipresent” in government-held areas. | Article 520 of the Penal Code (1949) criminalizes “unnatural sexual intercourse.” Potential imprisonment of up to 3 years. In 2003 Syria, at the UN Commission on Human Rights, voted to postpone a draft UN resolution on human rights and sexual orientation. The vote was 24 to 17. The draft resolution was to bring the Commission to express its deep concern at the occurrence of human rights violations worldwide against people on the basis of their sexual orientation; Stress that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings and that the universal character of these rights and freedoms is indisputable; and call on all States to promote and protect the fundamental rights of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation. |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Start Date | Jun 22, 1949 | 1949 |
| Description | According to regime law, homosexuality is punishable by up to 3 years in prison. Homosexuality may technically be illegal, there have been no confirmed cases of arrest and many homosexuals live openly in certain regime held cities. Due to conflict in Syria, the country is controlled by many forces all implementing their own laws that are either more or less equal. | Article 520 of the Penal Code (1949) criminalises “unnatural sexual intercourse” with a potential imprisonment of up to 3 years. Additionally, Article 517 criminalises any “act against public decency" carried out in a public or open area. Such acts are punishable with imprisonment of up to 3 years. The parameters of criminalisation have at times expanded beyond the writ of the law, as a result of several armed conflicts having taken place in Syria since 2011. Human Rights Watch noted in 2020 that since the start of the Syrian civil war, persons of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities or expressions, especially men, boys and trans women, have faced extreme abuse and sexual violence at the hands of police and military personnel at checkpoints, and in detention centres. Additionally, a report published in June 2021 by the Center for Operational Analysis and Research (COAR Global) found that the risk of arbitrary detention is “omnipresent” in government-held areas. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://harpers.org/archive/2016/02/we-dont-have-rights-but-we-are-alive/3/ | https://database.ilga.org/syria-lgbti https://harpers.org/archive/2016/02/we-dont-have-rights-but-we-are-alive/3/ |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Innacurate and misleading information
Helpful?
-1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Legal |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
-1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (other penalty) | (REMOVED) |
| Description | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison according to regime law but is never inforced | According to regime law, homosexuality is punishable by up to 3 years in prison. Homosexuality may technically be illegal, there have been no confirmed cases of arrest and many homosexuals live openly in certain regime held cities. Due to conflict in Syria, the country is controlled by many forces all implementing their own laws that are either more or less equal. |
Show Difference | ||
Reports (1)
- Status is not correct "Homosexuality in syria is legal"
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | Illegal (other penalty) |
| Description | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison according to regime law | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison according to regime law but is never inforced |
Show Difference | ||
edited by JohnQuebec98. Source less information is edited in
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (other penalty) | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Description | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison according to regime law but is never enforced as openly gay Syrians exist within the country. | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison according to regime law |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | Illegal (other penalty) |
| Description | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison in regime held Syria | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison according to regime law but is never enforced as openly gay Syrians exist within the country. |
Show Difference | ||
edited by JohnQuebec98. Incorrect information was shown with regards to this country
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Description | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison in regime held Syria while Turkish controlled areas do not punish homosexuals. | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison in regime held Syria |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Special Status | (REMOVED) | Ambiguous |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | (REMOVED) |
| Description | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison in Syria | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison in regime held Syria while Turkish controlled areas do not punish homosexuals. |
Show Difference | ||
edited by JohnQuebec98. Inaccurate information shown as the Turkish controlled areas are unfortunately minimal
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Description | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison in Syria Imprisonment is almost never enforced by regime due to police corruption Kurdish and Turkish controlled areas have no specific laws applying to this | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison in Syria |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | (REMOVED) |
| Description | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison in Syria | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison in Syria Imprisonment is almost never enforced by regime due to police corruption Kurdish and Turkish controlled areas have no specific laws applying to this |
Show Difference | ||
edited by JohnQuebec98. Re editing of source
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | http://www.helem.net/sites/default/files/2.pdf https://76crimes.com/76-countries-where-homosexuality-is-illegal/ https://ilga.org/downloads/02_ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2016_ENG_WEB_150516.pdf http://archive.globalgayz.com/middle-east/syria/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/06/12/recognizing-religious-freedom-lgbt-issue http://archive.globalgayz.com/middle-east/syria/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Syria | https://harpers.org/archive/2016/02/we-dont-have-rights-but-we-are-alive/3/ |
Show Difference | ||
edited by JohnQuebec98. Syria unfortunately has yet to legalise homosexuality
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Description | Homosexuality while illegal in Syria isn’t enforced | Homosexuality can be met up to 3 years in prison in Syria |
| Sources | http://www.helem.net/sites/default/files/2.pdf https://76crimes.com/76-countries-where-homosexuality-is-illegal/ https://ilga.org/downloads/02_ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2016_ENG_WEB_150516.pdf http://archive.globalgayz.com/middle-east/syria/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/06/12/recognizing-religious-freedom-lgbt-issue http://archive.globalgayz.com/middle-east/syria/ | http://www.helem.net/sites/default/files/2.pdf https://76crimes.com/76-countries-where-homosexuality-is-illegal/ https://ilga.org/downloads/02_ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2016_ENG_WEB_150516.pdf http://archive.globalgayz.com/middle-east/syria/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/06/12/recognizing-religious-freedom-lgbt-issue http://archive.globalgayz.com/middle-east/syria/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Syria |
Show Difference | ||
edited by JohnQuebec98. Fortunately for Syrian homosexuals, Many homophobic laws aren’t enforced
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Special Status | (REMOVED) | Ambiguous |
| Description | Turkish and Kurdish controlled areas of Syria do not punish homosexuality. Regime held territory detains homosexuals almost never. ISIS, FSA and Nusra fronts punish homosexuals by death. Homosexuality is illegal and is punishable to up to 3 years imprisonment. The penal law states any "carnal intercourse against the order of nature... shall be punished with imprisonment..." | Homosexuality while illegal in Syria isn’t enforced |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Data only applies to regime held territories
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Homosexuality is illegal and is punishable to up to 3 years imprisonment. The penal law states any "carnal intercourse against the order of nature... shall be punished with imprisonment..." | Turkish and Kurdish controlled areas of Syria do not punish homosexuality. Regime held territory detains homosexuals almost never. ISIS, FSA and Nusra fronts punish homosexuals by death. Homosexuality is illegal and is punishable to up to 3 years imprisonment. The penal law states any "carnal intercourse against the order of nature... shall be punished with imprisonment..." |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | (REMOVED) |
edited by Pizzaslices412653. Homosexuality is Illegal
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Description | Homosexuality is illegal but not enforced. (Regime held territories) The penal law states any "carnal intercourse against the order of nature... shall be punished with imprisonment..." | Homosexuality is illegal and is punishable to up to 3 years imprisonment. The penal law states any "carnal intercourse against the order of nature... shall be punished with imprisonment..." |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | (REMOVED) |
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Mispelling
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Homosexuality is illegal but almost not enforced. (Regime held territories) The penal law states any "carnal intercourse against the order of nature... shall be punished with imprisonment..." | Homosexuality is illegal but not enforced. (Regime held territories) The penal law states any "carnal intercourse against the order of nature... shall be punished with imprisonment..." |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Special Status | (REMOVED) | Ambiguous |
| Description | The penal law states any "carnal intercourse against the order of nature... shall be punished with imprisonment..." | Homosexuality is illegal but almost not enforced. (Regime held territories) The penal law states any "carnal intercourse against the order of nature... shall be punished with imprisonment..." |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Data only applies to regime held territories
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | (REMOVED) |
Reports (4)
- Status is not correct "UNENFORCED PRISON according to LGBTQ map on Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_Middle_East"
- Other "Dont ask don't tell"
- Newer law has been passed "no you are wrong love is FREAKING LOVE"
- Other "Law is de facto suspended"
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | http://www.helem.net/sites/default/files/2.pdf | http://www.helem.net/sites/default/files/2.pdf https://76crimes.com/76-countries-where-homosexuality-is-illegal/ https://ilga.org/downloads/02_ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2016_ENG_WEB_150516.pdf http://archive.globalgayz.com/middle-east/syria/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/06/12/recognizing-religious-freedom-lgbt-issue http://archive.globalgayz.com/middle-east/syria/ |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | The penal law states any "carnal intercourse against the order of nature... shall be punished with imprisonment... | The penal law states any "carnal intercourse against the order of nature... shall be punished with imprisonment..." |
Show Difference | ||
Reports (2)
- Status is not correct "imprison for gays up to 3 years is active ."
- Status is not correct "1) ISIL has not been defeated.
2) In ISIL-held territory, the punishment is to be thrown from a tall building, and if you live, to be stoned to death.
"