Syria

Syria’s legal landscape remains highly restrictive for LGBTIQ individuals, with same-sex relations being criminalized under Article 520 of the Penal Code. This provision bans “sexual acts against nature” and is commonly used to prosecute and imprison individuals accused of engaging in same-sex relations, with sentences of up to three years in prison. The legal framework does not provide a path for legal gender recognition, posing legal and social challenges for transgender individuals.   

Before the Syrian civil war, which started in 2011, Syria’s societal attitudes toward LGBTIQ individuals were already conservative and often hostile, deeply rooted in traditions and family values. Homosexuality was largely viewed as taboo, and many people faced social ostracism, harassment, and family rejection. As a result, many LGBTIQ Syrians lived closeted lives, and LGBTIQ organizations struggled to operate openly in the country.   

The outbreak of civil war has further complicated the situation for LGBTIQ individuals. In January 2015, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the execution of 14 individuals by Islamist groups over the course of a year on charges of adultery for women and adultery and homosexuality for men. In 2020, there were alarming reports of public beatings and executions of individuals in territories controlled by Islamic extremist groups. These groups are particularly hostile to LGBTIQ people, enforcing a strict interpretation of Shariah, under which homosexuality is viewed as a crime punishable by death.  

In recent years, reports of violence and forced disappearances have emerged, with LGBTIQ individuals targeted by both the Syrian government and opposition factions. In regions controlled by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Kurdish forces, the situation for LGBTIQ individuals is marginally better, but still fraught with legal and social challenges. While Kurdish forces have sometimes shown a degree of tolerance for diverse gender identities, there is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships or gender identity, and LGBTIQ individuals still face severe social stigma in regions they control.  

Though LGBTIQ advocacy organizations have tried to raise awareness and provide support to the community, the ongoing conflict and political instability have made it impossible to establish any formal, openly operating LGBTIQ groups within Syria. These organizations, if they exist, operate underground or from outside the country, and LGBTIQ individuals in Syria cannot easily turn to organizations for protection or support. Many have been forced to flee the country as refugees, seeking asylum in neighboring countries like Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan, where they still face significant risks of discrimination and marginalization.

*Outright research indicates bodily autonomy of intersex people is not respected and protected.