Global Overview
Middle East Countries where Homosexuality is still a Crime (in alphabetical order) In the Middle Eastern region, there are 13 countries that still criminalise homosexuality. Of these 8 have ratified the ICCPR, but none have submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the UN Human Rights Committee by ratifying the Optional Protocol to the ICCPR. Here's everything you need to know:. While there is no standard response, the answer to this question is — generally, pretty harshly. LGBT+ rights and issues in the Middle East
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people generally have limited or highly restrictive rights in most parts of West Asia, and are open to hostility in others. Same-sex behavior is punishable by imprisonment in five of the 18 countries in the region. It is also punishable by death in five of these 18 countries. In the Middle Eastern region, there are 13 countries that still criminalise homosexuality. Penal Code 
Homosexuality in the Middle East
A strong global movement has improved respect for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people around the world. However, at least 67 countries have national laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults. In addition, at least nine countries have national laws criminalizing forms of gender expression that target transgender and gender nonconforming. A strong global movement has improved respect for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender LGBT people around the world. However, at least 67 countries have national laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults.
Middle East
Homosexuality in the Middle East is a deeply complex and multifaceted issue, shaped by the region’s religious, cultural, and legal landscapes. While attitudes and policies vary across countries, the overarching narrative is one of tension between traditional values and emerging calls for LGBTQ+ rights. The criminalisation of homosexuality and trans-identity is a devastating reality in over 60 countries. These laws contribute to the marginalisation and stigmatisation of these minorities.
The Fight for LGBTQI+ Rights in the Maghreb and the Middle East
The laws give legal legitimacy to persecute queer individuals and violate their rights and freedoms. The growing anti-gender movement, nurtured by populist political mainstream discourse, has fueled anti-queer rights campaigns that work to delegitimize any non-conforming gender identity in the MENA region. As of recent data, over 60 countries still enforce such laws, with penalties ranging from fines and imprisonment to the death penalty in extreme cases, particularly in parts of the Middle East and Africa. While progress has been made in some regions, with countries decriminalizing homosexuality and recognizing same-sex unions, the global landscape remains starkly divided, highlighting the ongoing struggle for equality and justice. The dangers faced by LGBTQ people in the Middle East
In the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, laws provide for the death penalty for those convicted of consensual sexual acts with people of the same sex, under strict interpretations of Sharia law. One Hundred Lashes. . 
Being Queer in the MENA Region
Why do so many Middle Eastern countries have anti-LGBTQ laws, and what can be done to make a change?. .
How the Middle East Moved From Tolerant of Homosexuality to a
Anti-gay laws, which criminalize same-sex relationships or restrict LGBTQ+ rights, have profound and devastating impacts on LGBTQ+ communities worldwide. In countries where such laws are in place—including many in Africa, the Middle East, parts of Asia, and some Caribbean nations—LGBTQ+ individuals face systemic discrimination, violence. .