Matrūh is governed by federal Egypt law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Banned
- 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
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Matrūh is lacking public opinion data.
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Homosexual activity in Matrūh is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Since 1937
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Egyptian law does not explicitly criminalize same-sex sexual acts. However, the state uses several morality provisions for the de facto criminalization of homosexual conduct. These public morality and public order laws have been used to target the LGBT community and reports of prison sentences for homosexual activity range from 3 months to 10 years.
There were also reports of police officers assaulting LGBTQIA people and "forcibly soliciting bribes to avoid arrest, and forcing them to provide information concerning other LGBTQI+ individuals.".
Furthermore, there are several reports of police using dating apps like Grindr or Tinder to lure LGB people into arrest on charges of debauchery or prostitution.
There were also reports of police officers assaulting LGBTQIA people and "forcibly soliciting bribes to avoid arrest, and forcing them to provide information concerning other LGBTQI+ individuals.".
Furthermore, there are several reports of police using dating apps like Grindr or Tinder to lure LGB people into arrest on charges of debauchery or prostitution.
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 banned.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2003
Banned
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 meaning they must be intersex or have a verifiable disorder of sex development (DSD) In addition to the approval of Al-Azhar. HRT is only allowed after a "sex-change surgery".
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
While technically article 9 of the constitution protects citizens from all discrimination, the law is not enforced to protect LGBT people and discrimination was widespread.
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
There are no protections for LGBT people in housing and there are several reports of landlords and neighbours forcing LGBT people to move with threats of reports to authority.
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 however they need to receive approval from a special committee.
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 legal.
Current status
Legal
In Egypt, there are no known regulations regarding whether MSMs can donate blood. The application form references sexual activity but does not specify with whom specifically.
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.
Equal age of consent in Matrūh is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Homosexuality is not legal in Egypt.
Legal Rights
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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
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Matrūh LGBT Organizations
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Common queries:
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Alternative names: Matrah, Matrūh