 |
| 79 countries where homosexuality is illegal |
Ten nations with large Muslim populations have laws providing for the death penalty for same-sex activity. How many actually impose the death sentence is a difficult question.
Further, some provinces in
Nigeria and
Somalia officially implement the death penalty.
Nigeria and Somalia bring the total to 10, as cited in this article’s introductory sentence: “Ten nations with large Muslim populations have laws providing for the death penalty for same-sex activity.” That total would be extended to 13 by adding Brunei Darussalam (law scheduled to take effect in 2016), Iraq (executions imposed despite the lack of a law allowing for them) and the Islamic State (executions imposed by an entity that acts as a nation but without international recognition as such).
However, news coverage in each of those nations is unreliable at best, so specific evidence of executions for same-sex intimacy is rare. In some countries, the death penalty for homosexual behavior may only be threatened, not carried out.
In Sudan, the death penalty is in frequent use, but there are no recent reports of executions for same-sex intimacy. Sudan ranked at No. 6 worldwide in number of executions (23+) in 2014, just below the United States, with 35,
according to Amnesty International.
Similarly, Yemen is No. 7 in frequency of executions overall, but the death penalty apparently has not been imposed recently for homosexual activity.
Researchers for Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board reported more than 10 years ago, “Information on whether such sentences have been carried out was not found.” More recently
an article on Yemen’s gay community in The Tower magazine stated, “Traditionally, that death penalty is not enforced, but citizens have been imprisoned for their sexual orientation.”
Evidence is a bit clearer about two war-torn areas —
Iraq and the territory controlled by Daesh/the
Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL). The ILGA report notes that “a sixth State, Iraq, although [the death penalty is] not in the civil code, clearly has judges and militias throughout the country that issue the death sentence for same-sex sexual behaviours. … We are also aware that in the Daesh(ISIS/ISIL)-held areas the death penalty is implemented (although a non-State actor, it is listed in the report). ” For examples, see:
In some nations, the death penalty is on the books but is not imposed. ILGA states:
Brunei Darussalam is due to activate the death penalty for same-sex sexual acts in 2016, but it seems likely that like
Pakistan,
Afghanistan and
Qatar although it is on the statute, it will not be implemented.
Here is a summary of all the information above in list form — a best-information-available list of 13 countries/regions where executions for homosexual activity are carried out or are provided by current or future law:
Nations with such laws on the books; executions have been carried out
Nations with such laws on the books; no recent executions reported
Nations with such laws on the books in part of the country; executions have or may have occurred
Nations with such laws on the books; no executions reported
Nation where such a law is scheduled to take effect in 2016
Nation with no such a law on the books; executions are carried out by militias and others
Not recognized as a nation; carries out executions
For more information:
Source:
76crimes, August 10, 2015
