LGBTQ rights in Oman
LGBTQ rights in Oman | |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Illegal: Islamic Sharia Law is applied.[1] Only enforced in cases of "public scandal". |
| Penalty | The punishment for this crime may include a custodial sentence of up to three years, in addition to financial penalties. |
| Gender identity | No |
| Military | No |
| Discrimination protections | None |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | No recognition of same-sex unions. |
| Adoption | No |
LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) people in Oman face significant social and legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBTQ residents.[2] Homosexuality in the Sultanate of Oman is illegal. It is clearly stated so in §§ 33 and 223 of the penal code. The punishment for this crime is a prison sentence of up to three years. This law applies to both men and women. The code is clear: "The suspects of homosexual or lesbian" intercourse shall be prosecuted without a prior complaint, if the act results in a public scandal.[1]
Living conditions
In September 2013, it was announced that all Gulf Cooperative Countries had agreed to discuss a proposal to devise a test for homosexuality intended to single out gay foreigners and prevent them from entering any of the countries.[3][4] However, it has been suggested that concern for hosting 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and fears for controversy in a case that football fans would have been screened, made officials backtrack the plans and insist that it was a mere proposal.[5]
In 2018, four men who cross-dressed as women in Salalah were arrested and punished. They were imprisoned and fined maximum amounts under laws against "indecent" dress and behaviour.[5]
LGBTQ rights movement in Oman
Like in other Gulf countries, advocacy for LGBTQ rights in Oman is a criminal act; activists use social media with an alias to protect their identities with very rare exceptions.
Summary table
| Same-sex sexual activity legal | (Up to 3 years to life imprisonment and fines, only enforced if public scandal is involved) |
| Equal age of consent | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in employment only | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) | |
| Same-sex marriages | |
| Recognition of same-sex couples | |
| Step-child adoption by same-sex couples | |
| Joint adoption by same-sex couples | |
| Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly in the military | |
| Conversion therapy banned | |
| Right to change legal gender | Laws against men dressing as women and vice versa. |
| Access to IVF for lesbians | |
| Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples | |
| MSMs allowed to donate blood |
See also
References
- ^ a b "State-sponsored Homophobia A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
- ^ "Oman". Human Dignity Trust. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "Gulf Cooperation Countries to test, detect then ban gays from entering their countries". LGBTWeekly.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ Cavan Sieczkowski (10 September 2013). "Gulf Countries Propose Test To 'Detect' Gays, Ban Them From Entering". Huffington Post. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Kuwaiti authorities arrest 23 'cross-dressers and homosexuals'". 15 January 2026.
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