Arbil is governed by federal Iraq law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢Ambiguous
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Unrecognized
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (1-year deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✖ Unequal
Public Opinion
Arbil is missing public opinion data.
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Homosexual activity in Arbil is ambiguous.
Current status
Since Jul 19, 1969
Since Jul 19, 1969
Ambiguous
Even though Iraq's Criminal Code doesn't mention homosexuality in its penal code, Articles such as 401 in the penal code can be used against LGBT community.
Current status
Since 1969
Since 1969
Ambiguous
In Iraq, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) individuals are subject to widespread discrimination. Openly gay men are not permitted to serve in the military and same-sex marriage or civil unions are illegal.[3] LGBT people do not have any legal protections against discrimination and are frequently victims of vigilante justice and honor killings.[3]
Same-sex marriage in Arbil is unrecognized.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2003
Since Jan 1, 2003
Unrecognized
Same-sex relationships are not recognized in Iraq.
Censorship of LGBT Issues in Arbil is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Imprisonment as punishment
Not known in Iraqi Kurdistan but LGBT people could be censored in Iraq under extensive public morality law namely , paragraph 215 , 220, 376, 401,402,403,404 and 408 of the Iraqi Penal code.
In August 2023, Iraq banned all media from using term "homosexuality", saying they must use "sexual deviance." The term "gender" was also banned.
In August 2023, Iraq banned all media from using term "homosexuality", saying they must use "sexual deviance." The term "gender" was also banned.
Right to change legal gender in Arbil is legal, but requires medical diagnosis.
Current status
Since Oct 29, 2018
Since Oct 29, 2018
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
Person applying for gender change must submit all documents and medical analyzes confirming their request, then their documents are submitted to the Ministry of the Interior, obtain the consent of the minister's office.
Until Oct 29, 2018
Ambiguous
Unknown. Missing non binary options on documents.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Arbil is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
No recognition in Iraq
LGBT discrimination in Arbil is no protections.
Current status
No protections
According to the United States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, "[Iraq] law prohibits discrimination based on race, disability, or social status, but it does not address the problem of sexual orientation or gender identity. Societal discrimination in employment, occupation, and housing based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and unconventional appearance was common."
LGBT employment discrimination in Arbil is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no employment discrimination protection for LGBT people in Iraq.
According to the United States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, "[Iraq] law prohibits discrimination based on race, disability, or social status, but it does not address the problem of sexual orientation or gender identity. Societal discrimination in employment, occupation, and housing based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and unconventional appearance was common."
According to the United States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, "[Iraq] law prohibits discrimination based on race, disability, or social status, but it does not address the problem of sexual orientation or gender identity. Societal discrimination in employment, occupation, and housing based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and unconventional appearance was common."
LGBT housing discrimination in Arbil is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no housing discrimination protection for LGBT people in Iraq.
According to the United States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, "[Iraq] law prohibits discrimination based on race, disability, or social status, but it does not address the problem of sexual orientation or gender identity. Societal discrimination in employment, occupation, and housing based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and unconventional appearance was common."
According to the United States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, "[Iraq] law prohibits discrimination based on race, disability, or social status, but it does not address the problem of sexual orientation or gender identity. Societal discrimination in employment, occupation, and housing based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and unconventional appearance was common."
Same-sex adoption in Arbil is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
No other laws in place.
Blood donations by MSMs in Arbil is banned (1-year deferral).
Current status
Banned (1-year deferral)
Under recent changes.
Conversion therapy in Arbil is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
No protections
Equality Index ?
N/A
There is not enough information on Arbil for an Equality Index to be assigned. Please contribute LGBTQ+ rights information or survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Arbil to help improve its accuracy.
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Alternative names: Arbil, Erbil, Irbil