Gay rights in Tunisia

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The practice of homosexuality is illegal in Tunisia and no gay rights exist.

Contents 1 Penal Code 2 Position of the government 3 Gay life in Tunisia 4 External links

[edit] Penal Code

Article 230 of the Penal Code of 1913 (largely modified in 1964) decrees imprisonment of up to three years for sodomy between consenting adults. [1]

[edit] Position of the government

In 1993, the Appeal Court of Tunis dismissed a request by a transsexual to change his status from male to female. The judgement ruled that his sex change was a "voluntary" and "artificial" operation and could not justify a civil status change. [2]

At least one gay man was known to have been granted asylum in the United States in 1997.

In February 2004, Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was present at a White House press conference where US president George Bush condemned gay marriages being performed at the time in San Francisco. [3]

The Tunisian government tightly censors the internet and in addition to blocking sites containing political opposition, Tunisia also filters pornography and gay-related content. [4] [5]

[edit] Gay life in Tunisia

While harassment by authorities and imprisonment of homosexuals is far from unknown, gays have a degree of freedom compared to other Muslim countries such as Libya, Egypt and Sudan which routinely persecutes suspected homosexuals. [6] Both gay and straight sex workers are numerous in the country and are harassed by the police. In the capital Tunis, Avenue Bourguiba is a known gay cruising spot. [7]

[edit] External links

• Behind The Mask: Tunisia
• Tunisia Sex Guide