Matrūh is governed by federal Egypt law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢Ambiguous
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- Unknown
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- Unknown
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Public Opinion
Matrūh is lacking public opinion data.
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Homosexual activity in Matrūh is ambiguous.
Current status
Since 2000
Ambiguous
Contemporary Egyptian law does not explicitly criminalize same-sex sexual acts. Instead, the state uses several morality provisions for the de facto criminalization of homosexual conduct. Any behavior, or the expression of any idea that is deemed to be immoral, scandalous or offensive to the teachings of a recognized religious leader may be prosecuted using these provisions. These public morality and public order laws have been used to target the LGBT community.
Same-sex marriage in Matrūh is banned.
Current status
Banned
Same-sex marriage has never been recognized in Egypt, and attempted ceremonies may be punishable by arrests.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Matrūh is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Imprisonment as punishment
Egypt: Mass Arrests Amid LGBT Media Blackout
Right to change legal gender in Matrūh is legal, but requires surgery.
Current status
Legal, but requires surgery
Yes, gender reassignment surgery is allowed and can be underwent in the country after getting an approval from the Al-Azhar Mosque or the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.
Gender-affirming care in Matrūh is restricted.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2003
Restricted
Starting in 2003, "sex-change medical interventions" were allowed only after a full chromosome map to ensure the person has a “biological need” to receive that treatment, in addition to approval of Al-Azhar. HRT is only allowed after a "sex-change surgery".
Legal, but restricted for minors
In 1980, Egypt adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
Until 1980
Banned
Medical transition is not possible
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Matrūh is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Egypt has not recognized a category other than male and female for intersex nor non-binary people.
Any gender beyond the binary cisgender model is officially treated as an illness.
Any gender beyond the binary cisgender model is officially treated as an illness.
LGBT discrimination in Matrūh is no protections.
Current status
Since Sep 11, 1971
No protections
LGBT employment discrimination in Matrūh is no protections.
Current status
Since Sep 11, 1971
No protections
Since the founding of Egypt, there hasn't been any protections for LGBTQ+ community
LGBT housing discrimination in Matrūh is no protections.
Current status
Since Sep 11, 1971
No protections
Since the founding of Egypt, there hasn't been any protection for LGBTQ+ community
Same-sex adoption in Matrūh is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Single parent adoption is only available for women who were previously married. Fostering is only available for opposite sex married couples.
Intersex infant surgery in Matrūh is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There is no ban on surgeries performed on intersex infants in Egypt.
Serving openly in military in Matrūh is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
As homosexuality is illegal, serving in the military is also illegal. Egypt uses invasive examinations which it claims can detect suspected homosexuals.
Blood donations by MSMs in Matrūh is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Conversion therapy in Matrūh is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversation therapy is wildly (despite secretly) practiced in Egypt, at the hands of medical professionals at governmental and private medical establishments; as well as in religious institutions; in addition to nonprofessionals practicing it online.
Legal Rights
7 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Matrūh to help improve its accuracy.
Top Contributors
- danlev 7 contributions
- vviet93 5 contributions
- LGBTsoutheastasian 3 contributions
- beeurd 3 contributions
- Mohamed_ElGohary 3 contributions
- DuffdeNecker 2 contributions
- fem_enby_queen_07769 1 contribution
- Jackninja5 1 contribution
- XabBG 1 contribution
- omalpau 1 contribution
Matrūh LGBT Organizations
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Common queries:
- Is it illegal to be gay in Matrūh?
- Is homosexuality legal in Matrūh?
- Is gay marriage legal in Matrūh?
Alternative names: Matrah, Matrūh