Global Rich List: How rich are you?
Every year we gaze enviously at the lists of the richest people in world, wondering what it would be like to have that sort of cash. But where would you sit on one of those lists? Check it out here.
Anonymous asked: No offense, but how do you think that the world is opening up to the LGBT community, when in the middle east they publicly say that anyone who is a homosexual should & will be killed, usually by being stoned to death. And these are the same countries, the same people, that you've defended earlier on in this blog. Are you ill-informed or do you just not care?
Pretty sure I said “Global North” and “economically richer countries” were opening up to the LGBT community. Countries run by dictatorships, or with little separation between church and state certainly have different laws.
I would be wary of generalizing the practices of all Middle East states. According to the Index on Censorship, four countries in the Middle East countries have legally mandated death penalties for homosexuality. I would never, ever say that condemning homosexuality is okay, or that the death penalty for homosexuality is okay. However, it is important to look at the history of each country to understand why the country’s culture of homophobia has taken root. Without understanding the complex history of each area, and the public’s relationship with religion, it is impossible to be an advocate for LGBT rights and advocate for the abolishment of these laws.
When you say “these are the same countries, the same people, that you’ve defended earlier on this blog”, I’d like to ask what you mean. I’m very against the murder of any person, regardless of race, color, gender, sex, sexuality, religion, national origin, etc. I’m consistent in my belief that death is never a proper penalty for any crime.
Here’s the research for legality of homosexuality in the Middle East, according to the 2005 Index on Censorship. The Index cites ILGA, Sodomy Laws, and Human Rights Watch, as well as Schmitt and Sofer’s Sexuality and Eroticism Among Males in Moslem Societies. If you’re looking for further country-specific information, I’d suggest delving into these sources for further (or more updated) information.
Egypt: Male homosexuality illegal with the penalty of three years’ imprisonment and fine. Female homosexuality legal.
Turkey: legal.
Iran: Male and female homosexuality illegal with the penalty for adult males being death, male minors being 74 lashes. Penalty for females is 100 lashes, and on the fourth offense, the death penalty may be used.
Sudan: Male and female homosexuality illegal, with the penalty of death (sharia law)
Algeria: Male and female homosexuality illegal. Penalty between adults is two years imprisonment and up to dinar 2,000 fine. Penalty where one party is a minor is three years’ imprisonment and up to dinar 10,000 fine.
Morocco: Male and female homosexuality illegal with the penalty of three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to dirhams 1,000
Iraq: Unclear; homosexual sex appears to be legal, although there are some reports that it is being treated as a crime.
Saudi Arabia: Male and female homosexuality illegal. Death is imposed in some cases, with prison terms and flogging more common.
Yemen: Male and female homosexuality illegal with the penalty of death (sharia law).
Syria: Male and female homosexuality illegal with the penalty of one year imprisonment.
Israel: Legal
Jordan: Legal
United Arab Emirates: Male and female homosexuality illegal with the penalty of three years’ imprisonment.
Lebanon: Male homosexuality is illegal with the penalty of a one year imprisonment. Female homosexuality is not mentioned, but there is a gender-neutral clause which has provided a basis for some arrests of women.
Palestinian territories: Male and female homosexuality illegal with the penalty of ten years imprisonment (this source is from sodomylaws.com; all other sources treat Palestine as part of Israel, or have no other information)
Kuwait: Male homosexuality is illegal, the status of female homosexuality is unknown. If the accused is over 21, the penalty is seven years’ imprisonment.
Oman: Male and female homosexuality illegal, with the penalty of three years’ imprisonment.
Qatar: Male and female homosexuality illegal with the penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
Bahrain: Male homosexuality is illegal with the penalty of ten years’ imprisonment. No information for female homosexuality is mentioned in the law, though iglhrc.org says lesbian sex is legal.
