Back معاملة المثليين في السعودية Arabic সৌদি আরবে সমকামিতা Bengali/Bangla Drets del col·lectiu LGBT a l'Aràbia Saudita Catalan LGBT práva v Saúdské Arábii Czech LGBTQ-rettigheder i Saudi-Arabien Danish Homosexualität in Saudi-Arabien German Δικαιώματα ΛΟΑΤ στη Σαουδική Αραβία Greek Diversidad sexual en Arabia Saudita Spanish LGBTQ õigused Saudi Araabias Estonian Homoseksuaalisuus Saudi-Arabiassa Finnish

LGBT rights in Saudi Arabia

LGBT rights in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
StatusIllegal: Sharia (Islamic law) is applied
Penalty
Gender identityNo
MilitaryNo
Discrimination protectionsNo protections
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsNo recognition of same-sex relationships
AdoptionNo

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Saudi Arabia face challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents.[3] The government of Saudi Arabia provides no legal protections for LGBT rights. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal within the country.[4]: 135–136 

The law of Saudi Arabia is uncodified; a Wahhabist interpretation of sharia, derived from the Quran and the Sunnah, is the basis of the law and justice system.[5]: 205  In particular, the Quranic account of the prophet Lut and certain teachings of Muhammad in the Sunnah, as viewed in the Wahhabi tradition, inform the legal treatment of same-sex sexual activity and nonconforming-gender presentation. Homosexuality and transgender status or gender non-conformity are widely seen as immoral and indecent, and the law allows penalties for acts of homosexuality of capital punishment,[4]: 69–74 [1][6] prison sentences of indeterminate length[a][2] (the maximum term is unknown[7]), fines, flogging, and deportation for foreigners.[8] During investigations and detentions, mistreatment of suspects and detainees, including beatings and torture, have occurred.[5]: 208–209  Community violence against LGBT persons occurs.[9][10]

In May 2023, the Saudi Tourism Authority website updated its FAQ page stating that all visitors, including LGBT visitors, were welcome to visit the country.[11] Though homosexuality remains illegal, enforcement of the laws is not universal.[12] The move follows a series of social and economic changes, including the abandonment of the enforcement of wearing the hijab in public,[13][14] and the opening of the first public beach in Saudi Arabia where women can wear bikinis.[15] The decision to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup within Saudi Arabia received strong criticism from the LGBT community.[3]

  1. ^ a b Bearak, Max; Cameron, Darla (16 June 2016). "Analysis: Here are the 10 countries where homosexuality may be punished by death". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b Research Directorate (11 August 2011), Responses to Information Requests (research report on country conditions: Saudi Arabia), Ottawa: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, SAU103739.FE, retrieved 7 April 2023
  3. ^ a b Perry, Sophie. "Saudi Arabia hosting 2034 World Cup leaves LGBTQ+ football fans horrified". PinkNews. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b ILGA World; Lucas Ramón Mendos; Kellyn Botha; Rafael Carrano Lelis; Enrique López de la Peña; Ilia Savelev; Daron Tan (14 December 2020). State-Sponsored Homophobia report: 2020 global legislation overview update (PDF) (Report) (14th revised ed.). Geneva: ILGA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Botha, Kellyn (November 2023). "Saudi Arabia". Our Identities under Arrest: A global overview on the enforcement of laws criminalising consensual same-sex sexual acts between adults and diverse gender expressions (PDF) (Second ed.). Geneva: ILGA World. pp. 205–209. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Man executed in Saudi Arabia admitted to gay sex in 'invented' confession". PinkNews. 29 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Saudi Arabia: Legal Frameworks – Criminalisation of consensual same-sex sexual acts", ILGA World Database, International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, See "Penalties: Max. prison" listing
  8. ^ "What you can be flogged for in Saudi Arabia". BBC News. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  9. ^ FPJ Web Desk (16 June 2022). "Saudi Arabia cracks down on homosexuality, bans 'immoral' rainbow toys". The Free Press Journal.
  10. ^ Trew, Bel (25 August 2016). "Saudi gay man's life at risk after WikiLeaks exposure". The Times. Reported from Cairo. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016.
  11. ^ Buckley, Julia (4 May 2023). "Saudi Arabia says it welcomes LGBTQ visitors". CNN News. Retrieved 9 May 2023. An STA spokesperson said in a statement: 'Everyone is welcome to visit Saudi, provided that they follow and respect our culture, traditions and laws, as you would when you visit any other country in the world.
    'Like other governments, we do not ask visitors personal questions and we respect the right to privacy.
  12. ^ "In a shift, Saudi Arabia to 'welcome' LGBTQ tourists". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  13. ^ Robertson, Nic (5 December 2020). "Saudi Arabia has changed beyond recognition. But will tourists want to visit?". CNN News. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  14. ^ Abdulaziz, Donna. "Saudi Women Are Breaking Free From the Black Abaya". WSJ. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Saudi couples flock to beach as kingdom deals with fast pace of social change". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 3 May 2023.


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