Madinat ash Shamal is governed by federal Qatar law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- Unknown
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
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Homosexual activity in Madinat ash Shamal is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Qatar is a conservative Muslim country and homosexuality is illegal. The law prohibits consensual same-sex sexual conduct between men but does not explicitly prohibit same-sex sexual relations between women. Non-Muslims are punished with fines and up to 7 years imprisonment, and for Muslims, they can technically be punished with the maximum being death under Sharia law. There is, however, very limited evidence that this law is enforced.
Qatar's laws and cultural norms are based on traditional gender roles and norms. Homosexuality is seen as a violation of these norms. LGBTQ+ individuals face harassment, discrimination, and violence in Qatar, and are not allowed to engage in same-sex sexual activity.
Qatar's laws and cultural norms are based on traditional gender roles and norms. Homosexuality is seen as a violation of these norms. LGBTQ+ individuals face harassment, discrimination, and violence in Qatar, and are not allowed to engage in same-sex sexual activity.
Same-sex marriage in Madinat ash Shamal is banned.
Current status
Since 1915
Banned
Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Qatar. Qatar is a conservative Muslim country and does not permit same-sex marriage or any other form of same-sex relationship. The country's laws and cultural norms heavily discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals, and homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment or fines. As a result, gay marriage is not possible or recognized in Qatar and LGBTQ+ individuals are not afforded the same rights and protections as heterosexual couples.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Madinat ash Shamal is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Since May 10, 2004
Imprisonment as punishment
Qatar has very limited freedom of the press. There have been cases of publications being censored for referencing LGBTQ+ topics.
The 2004 Penal Code also criminalises “leading, instigating or seducing a man to commit sodomy” with up to three years in prison.
The 2004 Penal Code also criminalises “leading, instigating or seducing a man to commit sodomy” with up to three years in prison.
Right to change legal gender in Madinat ash Shamal is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
In Qatar, trans women can be arrested for the crime of "impersonating a woman". Such individuals are often deemed to be "violating public morality" or infringing "community protection" laws and, as such, police may detain them for up to six months without trial or charge, on this suspicion. While detained, authorities attempt to enforce conformity to local social norms of male appearance by requiring physical detransition, such as surgical removal of breast tissue. Detainees are required to attend conversion "therapy" upon release, according to information received by the BBC. Qatari authorities "categorically rejected" the reports by the trans women who detailed their experiences.
Gender-affirming care in Madinat ash Shamal is restricted.
Current status
Restricted
Gender affirming care is not explicitly banned in Qatar but due to social conservatism from the state, it is not often available and is restricted to a few costly private clinics. Most trans Qataris go abroad for such care.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Madinat ash Shamal is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Qatar does not have any legal recognition for non-binary individuals or any other gender identities outside of the male/female binary.
LGBT discrimination in Madinat ash Shamal is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in Qatar. Qatar's laws and cultural norms heavily discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. LGBTQ+ individuals are not afforded the same rights and protections as heterosexual individuals, and they often face harassment, discrimination, and violence. In Qatar, LGBTQ+ individuals are not allowed to openly express their sexual orientation or gender identity, and they are at risk of persecution if they do so.
LGBT employment discrimination in Madinat ash Shamal is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no employment protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in Qatar.
LGBT housing discrimination in Madinat ash Shamal is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no housing protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in Qatar.
Same-sex adoption in Madinat ash Shamal is illegal.
Current status
Since 1915
Illegal
There are no same-sex adoption laws in Qatar. Same-sex couples are not allowed to adopt children in Qatar, and LGBTQ+ individuals are not afforded the same rights and protections as heterosexual couples when it comes to adoption and parenting.
Intersex infant surgery in Madinat ash Shamal is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Serving openly in military in Madinat ash Shamal is illegal.
Current status
Since 1915
Illegal
Blood donations by MSMs in Madinat ash Shamal is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Since 1915
Banned (indefinite deferral)
There are no specific laws or bans around MSMs donating blood in Qatar, however, homosexuality is illegal in the country.
Conversion therapy in Madinat ash Shamal is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There are now laws banning conversion therapy in Qatar. However, it is also unclear how prevalent the practice is in the country.
In October 2022, a Human Rights Watch report documented cases where transgender individuals were publicly arrested based solely on their gender identity between 2019 and 2022. The women were reportedly severely beaten and sexually harassed under police custody. As a condition of their release, these women were required to attend conversion therapy at a government-sponsored "behavioral healthcare" facility.
In October 2022, a Human Rights Watch report documented cases where transgender individuals were publicly arrested based solely on their gender identity between 2019 and 2022. The women were reportedly severely beaten and sexually harassed under police custody. As a condition of their release, these women were required to attend conversion therapy at a government-sponsored "behavioral healthcare" facility.
Equal age of consent in Madinat ash Shamal is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.
Legal Rights
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Alternative names: ash-Shamal