LGBT people living in Qatar may face certain unique cultural and legal challenges due to their identity. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, and prevailing cultural mores view homosexuality and cross-dressing negatively. The Qatari government does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil partnerships, nor does it allow people in Qatar to campaign for LGBT rights.
In November 2008 George Michael performed at a successful concert in Qatar, making him the first openly gay musician to perform in Qatar. This didn't reflect a wider change in policy.
Video LGBT rights in Qatar
Criminal code
Since 2004, Article 296 of the current Penal Code (Law 11/2004) stipulates imprisonment between 1 and 3 years for sodomy between men. This is a slight revision of the original law that stipulated up to five years imprisonment for male homosexuality.
In 1995 an American citizen visiting Qatar was sentenced to six months in shabab markeah and 420 lashes for homosexual activity. In the 1990s, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration informed Philippine workers that gay workers were prohibited in Qatar. This was in response to several mass arrests and deportations of Philippine workers in Qatar, for homosexuality.
The Qatari penal code also contains additional criminal sanctions for adultery, fornication and any speech or conduct that is judged to be disorderly, immoral or likely to offend traditional religious mores.
These laws give Qatari police considerable leeway to jail or fine LGBT people, bacause Islam is the official religion and an important source for Qatari law.
Maps LGBT rights in Qatar
Family law
Qatari law concerning marriage, divorce and other family matters are influenced by traditional Islamic morality. Hence, cohabitation is illegal and no legal recognition exists in Qatar for same-sex marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships. No social services exist in Qatar to help parents accept their LGBT youth.
2022 FIFA World Cup controversy
In September 2013, it was announced that all Gulf Cooperative Countries had agreed to discuss a proposal to establish some form of, yet unknown, testing in order to ban gay foreigners from entering any of the countries.
Qatar's record on LGBT rights became a source of debate again, with gay rights groups criticizing FIFA for choosing to host the event in a country where homosexuality is illegal. Richard de Mos, a member of the Dutch Parliament for the Freedom Party (PVV), has proposed that the Dutch football team play in pink, instead of the country's national colour, orange, to protest the gay rights situation in Qatar.
Summary table
See also
- Human rights in Qatar
- LGBT in the Middle East
- LGBT rights by country or territory
References
External links
- UK government travel advice for Qatar: Local laws and customs
Source of article : Wikipedia
0 Comments