Karbala' is governed by federal Iraq law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Banned
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- N/A
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- Unknown
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Karbala' is lacking public opinion data.
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Homosexual activity in Karbala' is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Since Apr 27, 2024
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
On April 27th, 2024, Iraq's parliament passed a law that criminalizes same-sex relationships with a maximum 15-year prison sentence.
Ambiguous
Iraq's Criminal Code does not explicitly mention homosexuality in its penal code, however certain articles such as article 401 can be used against LGBT community. The article criminalises “immodest acts” in public, and punishable by a period of detention of up to six months and/or a fine.
Same-sex marriage in Karbala' is banned.
Current status
Banned
Article 3.1 of the Personal Status Law defines that "Marriage is a contract between a man and a woman who is lawfully permissible to him, the purpose of which is to establish a bond for a mutual life and procreate children. "
Censorship of LGBT issues in Karbala' is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Imprisonment as punishment
Not known in Iraqi Kurdistan but LGBT people could be censored in Iraq under extensive public morality law namely , paragraph 215 , 220, 376, 401,402,403,404 and 408 of the Iraqi Penal code.
In August 2023, Iraq banned all media from using term "homosexuality", saying they must use "sexual deviance." The term "gender" was also banned.
In August 2023, Iraq banned all media from using term "homosexuality", saying they must use "sexual deviance." The term "gender" was also banned.
Right to change legal gender in Karbala' is illegal.
Current status
Since Apr 27, 2024
Illegal
Article 3 of the new bill Iraq’s Parliament passed April 27th, prohibits altering a person's biological sex based on psychological desires, and Article 6 imposes penalties of imprisonment for those attempting or performing such changes.
Gender-affirming care in Karbala' is banned.
Current status
Since Apr 27, 2024
Banned
On April 27th, 2024, the Iraqi Parliament passed the amendment to the Law Against Prostitution and Sexual Deviance. Article 2 of the bill criminalizes "acts of effeminacy," defined as imitating women through actions such as wearing women’s cosmetics or clothes in public, taking hormones to display feminine traits, or any other behavior deemed effeminate by medical and social standards. Offenders could face imprisonment ranging from one to three years or fines between five and ten million dinars. Additionally, Article 3 prohibits altering a person's biological sex based on psychological desires, with Article 6 imposing penalties of imprisonment for those attempting or performing such changes, except in cases of necessary surgical interventions for congenital anomalies.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Karbala' is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Following the amendment to the Law against Prostitution and Sexual Deviance, changing your legal gender was made illegal. However, even before the law there was no legal recognition provided to nonbinary or intersex people in Iraq.
LGBT discrimination in Karbala' is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Iraq, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from discrimination.
LGBT employment discrimination in Karbala' is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Iraq, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from employment discrimination.
LGBT housing discrimination in Karbala' is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Iraq, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from housing discrimination.
Same-sex adoption in Karbala' is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Adoption is prohibited for everyone in Iraq.
Intersex infant surgery in Karbala' is not banned.
Blood donations by MSMs in Karbala' is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Conversion therapy in Karbala' is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
No protections
Equal age of consent in Karbala' is n/a.
Current status
Since Apr 27, 2024
N/A
On April 27th, 2024, Iraq's parliament passed a law that criminalizes same-sex relationships. So, the age of consent for homosexual sex is N/A.
Until Apr 27, 2024
Ambiguous
While the age of consent for non-married couples in Iraq is 18, the laws regarding homosexuality are ambiguous so the age of consent status is also ambiguous.
Legal Rights
3 / 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 Karbala' to help improve its accuracy.
Top Contributors
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Karbala' LGBT Organizations
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Alternative names: Karbala, Kerbala, Kerbela
