2 min read
Last updated:
Page 1 — Introduction and Context
In Syria, LGBT citizens live under constant fear of violence, arrest, and discrimination. Across all regions — whether controlled by the government, opposition forces, or extremist groups — hostility towards LGBT people remains deeply entrenched.
Despite the shifting political and territorial lines of Syria’s conflict, one constant has been the denial of rights and dignity to LGBT citizens, forcing many into hiding or exile.
Page 2 — Historical and Political Background
Syria’s Penal Code criminalises same-sex relations, punishing those convicted with imprisonment. Even before the civil war, LGBT citizens faced harassment, social stigma, and exclusion.
With the outbreak of war in 2011, conditions worsened. Extremist groups such as ISIS carried out brutal executions of suspected LGBT individuals, while government forces used morality laws to harass and blackmail citizens. In opposition-held territories, discrimination and violence have remained widespread.
This hostile environment leaves LGBT Syrians without safe havens inside their own country.
Page 3 — Forms of Hostility and Persecution
LGBT Syrians face persecution in many forms:
- Criminalisation: same-sex relations outlawed under national law.
- Violence: physical assaults, including killings by extremist groups.
- Arrests and blackmail: police and security forces use morality laws to extort and detain.
- Social stigma: family rejection and community hostility are widespread.
- Exile: many flee abroad to escape persecution, living in exile with uncertain futures.
These conditions force LGBT citizens to live in secrecy, suppressing their identities to survive.
Page 4 — Consequences for Citizens and Society
For individuals, hostility means isolation, fear, and trauma. Many LGBT Syrians are cut off from their families, unable to access healthcare, or forced into sham marriages. For those who escape, asylum abroad presents new challenges of integration and prejudice.
For Syrian society, systemic discrimination reinforces cycles of intolerance and undermines human rights. The persecution of LGBT citizens weakens democratic prospects and tarnishes Syria’s global reputation.
Page 5 — Solutions and Conclusion
Protecting LGBT Syrians requires urgent reform and international advocacy.
Key steps include:
- Legal reform: repeal laws criminalising same-sex relations.
- Accountability: hold perpetrators of violence and harassment responsible.
- Safe spaces: provide protection and services for LGBT citizens.
- Asylum protections: expand resettlement options for LGBT refugees.
- Awareness campaigns: promote tolerance and challenge stigma.
Until such changes are made, Syria will remain hostile to LGBT citizens in all regions, forcing many to live in fear or flee their homeland in search of safety.
Need an expert witness report for your case?
Our country experts provide independent reports for asylum and immigration cases in the UK, US, Canada, and EU.
Order an expert witness report |
Find a country expert witness |
About our expert team
