ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2012

Comoros
Male/Male Illegal Female/Female Illegal
Penal Code of the Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros 138
Article 318. –
“(3) Without prejudice to the more serious penalties provided for in the preceding paragraphs or by articles
320 and 321 of this Code, whoever will have committed an improper or unnatural act with a person of the
same sex will be punished by imprisonment of between one and five years and by a fine of 50 000 to
1 000 000 francs. If the act was committed with a minor, the maximum penalty will always be applied.”
Egypt
Male/Male Illegal Female/Female Unclear
Sexual relations between consenting adult persons of the same sex in private are not prohibited as such.
However, Law 10/1961, aimed at combating prostitution, as well as for example Penal Code article 98w on
“Contempt for Religion” and article 278 on “Shameless public acts” have been used to imprison gay men in
the recent years. 139
Law n° 10, 1961 on 'Combating of prostitution, incitement and its encouragement': 140
Article 9 (c) "Anyone who habitually engages in debauchery or prostitution is liable to a penalty of three
months to three years imprisonment and/or a fine of LE 25-300".
Eritrea
Male/Male Illegal Female/Female Illegal
Penal Code of 1957 (Inherited from Ethiopian rule) 141
Art. 600. — Unnatural Carnal Offences.
“(1) Whosoever performs with another person of the same sex an act corresponding to the sexual act, or any
other indecent act, is punishable with simple imprisonment.
(2) The provisions of Art. 597 are applicable where an infant or young person is involved.”
Art.105.- Simple Imprisonment.
“(1) simple imprisonment is a sentence applicable to offences of a not very serious nature committed by
persons who are not a serious danger to society.
It is intended as a measure of safety to the general public and as a punishment to the offender.
Subject to any special provision of law and without prejudice to conditional release, simple imprisonment
may extend for a period of from ten days to three years; such period shall be fixed by the court.
(2) The sentence of simple imprisonment shall be served in such prison or in such section thereof as is
appointed for the purpose.”
135 German Bundestag; Printed Paper 16/3597, p. 9.
http://www.volkerbeck.de/cms/files/16_3597_minor_interpellation.pdf
136 Available at: www.glapn.org/sodomylaws/world/cameroon/cameroon.htm
137 See Criminalizing Identities – Rights Abuses in Cameroon based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2010,
p. 10, note 9, available at: www.hrw.org/en/reports/2010/11/04/criminalizing-identities-0.
138 Text of the law is available at : http://www.comores-droit.com/code/penal.
139 German Bundestag; Printed Paper 16/3597, p. 8-9.
http://www.volkerbeck.de/cms/files/16_3597_minor_interpellation.pdf
140 See Statement of the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) of 2003, available at:
http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/0/fda8c19f8d15755bc1256cf40033b7d9?Opendocument
State-Sponsored Homophobia – May 2011
ILGA – The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association - www.ilga.org
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