- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Banned
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- Unknown
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Public opinion polls in particular regions of Mauritania have found that homophobic beliefs persist.
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Homosexual activity in Mauritania is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1987
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Illegal, public execution by stoning for men, [not enforced]; prison and fines for women
Mauritanian representatives informed the United Nations that executions have effectively been suspended since 1987.
On April 27, 2018, the National Assembly approved legislation replacing article 306 of the Criminal Code, mandating the death penalty for individuals convicted of "blasphemous speech" and "sacrilegious" acts. However, the death penalty for homosexual acts has not been enforced since 1986. The law removes the option, previously available under article 306, to substitute prison sentences for death penalties for certain apostasy-related offenses upon prompt repentance. Additionally, the law broadens the death penalty's reach to include "renegade acts."
Mauritanian representatives informed the United Nations that executions have effectively been suspended since 1987.
On April 27, 2018, the National Assembly approved legislation replacing article 306 of the Criminal Code, mandating the death penalty for individuals convicted of "blasphemous speech" and "sacrilegious" acts. However, the death penalty for homosexual acts has not been enforced since 1986. The law removes the option, previously available under article 306, to substitute prison sentences for death penalties for certain apostasy-related offenses upon prompt repentance. Additionally, the law broadens the death penalty's reach to include "renegade acts."
Same-sex marriage in Mauritania is banned.
Current status
Since Jul 9, 1983
Banned
Same-sex marriage is not possible due to the laws on Homosexual activity
Censorship of LGBT issues in Mauritania is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Imprisonment as punishment
The Mauritanian authorities uses provisions such as “indecency” and “incitation to debauchery” on those who challenge the country with LGBT social movements.
Right to change legal gender in Mauritania is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
not allowed
Gender-affirming care in Mauritania is banned.
Current status
Banned
In Mauritania, medical gender transitions are prohibited. There are no specific laws that allow or frame these transitions, and Mauritanian society does not legally recognize transgender people.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Mauritania is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
There are no laws/procedures that allow you to change your legal gender in Mauritania.
LGBT discrimination in Mauritania is no protections.
Current status
Since Jul 12, 1991
No protections
Homosexuality is illegal in Mauritania. As such, date provided is the date where the most recent version of the constitution came into effect.
LGBT employment discrimination in Mauritania is no protections.
Current status
Since Jul 12, 1991
No protections
No protection is granted as homosexuality still carries a death sentence.
LGBT housing discrimination in Mauritania is no protections.
Current status
No protections
Homosexual activity is illegal in Mauritania since 1983, housing discrimination is N/A.
Same-sex adoption in Mauritania is illegal.
Current status
Since Jul 9, 1983
Illegal
Same-sex adoption is not possible due to homosexual activities being punishable
Intersex infant surgery in Mauritania is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There is no ban on surgeries performed on intersex infants in Mauritania.
Serving openly in military in Mauritania is illegal.
Current status
Since Jul 8, 1983
Illegal
As homosexuality is illegal, serving in the military by LGBTQ+ individuals are also illegal
Blood donations by MSMs in Mauritania is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2016
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Homosexual activity is punishable by death in Mauritania, blood donations from MSM cannot be possible.
Equal age of consent in Mauritania is n/a.
Current status
Since Jul 9, 1983
N/A
Homosexual activity is illegal in Mauritania.
LGBT Rights by Region
View the LGBT laws in each individual region of Mauritania.
- Tiris Zemmour
- Trarza
- Nouakchott-Nord (District)
- Nouakchott-Sud (District)
- Nouakchott-Ouest (District)
Equality Rank
- #177 Libya11
- #178 Tanzania11
- #179 Uganda10
-
#180 Mauritania10
- #181 Burundi10
- #182 Malawi10
- #183 Qatar10
#121
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
Top Contributors
- qcksws 6 contributions
- Unknownmiles 6 contributions
- vviet93 4 contributions
- danlev 3 contributions
- Ro_Guy 1 contribution
- LGBT_southeastasian 1 contribution
- equaldex 1 contribution
- fem_enby_queen_07769 1 contribution
Mauritania LGBT Organizations
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Common queries:
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Alternative names: Muritaniya/Mauritanie (local name)
