Shamal Sina' is governed by federal Egypt 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
- ✖ 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
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Homosexual activity in Shamal Sina' 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 Shamal Sina' 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 Shamal Sina' is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Since Jul 31, 1937
Imprisonment as punishment
Egypt's media regulator prohibits positive discussion of homosexuality and enforces a widespread crackdown on LGBT rights activism. There are also reports of forced anal examinations to determine if the accused engaged in same-sex sexual activity despite the practice being wholly denounced by human rights group as not only torturous and inhumane but inconclusive.
The Penal Code of 1937 contains Article 178 of Law No. 58 which punishes anyone who trades or distributes material that are deemed "in violation of public morals" with imprisonment. This has been consistently used against LGBTIQ+ people especially since 2013.
The Penal Code of 1937 contains Article 178 of Law No. 58 which punishes anyone who trades or distributes material that are deemed "in violation of public morals" with imprisonment. This has been consistently used against LGBTIQ+ people especially since 2013.
Right to change legal gender in Shamal Sina' is illegal.
Current status
Since Dec 12, 2024
Legal, but requires surgery
A loophole was frequently used by trans people in the Civil Status Law of 1994 in Egypt to change their legal gender in the absence of a legal gender recognition process. However, cases required surgery for acceptance. Until 2024, the Ministry of Interior adopted a "don't ask, don't tell" policy in relation to this.
Gender-affirming care in Shamal Sina' is banned.
Current status
Since Sep 5, 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 Shamal Sina' 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 Shamal Sina' is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Egypt, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from discrimination.
LGBT employment discrimination in Shamal Sina' is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Egypt, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from employment discrimination.
LGBT housing discrimination in Shamal Sina' is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Egypt, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from housing discrimination.
Same-sex adoption in Shamal Sina' 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 Shamal Sina' 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 Shamal Sina' 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 Shamal Sina' 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 Shamal Sina' 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 Shamal Sina' is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Homosexuality is not legal in Egypt.
Legal Rights
5 / 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 Shamal Sina' to help improve its accuracy.
Top Contributors
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Shamal Sina' LGBT Organizations
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Common queries:
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Alternative names: Shamal Sina, Sina aš-Šamālīyah, Sinai ash-Shamaliyah, Šamāl Sīna