9 Countries Where Homosexuals Are Fiercely Hated
So much so that they even kill.
To a resident of Europe, it may seem that the fight for LGBT rights is coming to an end. Throughout Europe, Australia, North America and most of South America, same-sex marriage and homosexuality are legal and openly discussed. Only the most narrow-minded fanatic would think that sexual orientation can be a reason for condemnation.
But in many parts of the world the situation is quite different. In particular, Russia introduced a law this year banning propaganda of homosexuality, followed by a spate of attacks against gays and lesbians. There are hundreds of governments around the world that are still doing their best to make life miserable for gay people. In some states where they live under Sharia law, they are executed, and in other countries, homosexuals are left to rot in prisons. Here are nine countries where LGBT people are truly hated.
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Source: www.publy.ru
1. India
For a country that considers itself "the largest democracy in the world", India's habit of turning a blind eye to the rights of sexual minorities is highly questionable. An illustrative example is the re-criminalization of homosexuality.
In 2009, the Delhi High Court overturned a 153-year-old law passed by the British colonial government that made sex between two adults of the same sex a crime. This was seen as a huge step forward in the fight for gay rights in the country, and many speculated that it was the start of a new era of LGBT tolerance.
But that was not the case: in December 2013, the court overturned its decision, again making relations between LGBT people illegal. Thanks to the efforts of a handful of fanatics, those who are accidentally seen kissing a person of the same sex face up to ten years in prison. Undoubtedly, this is the very path that will convince everyone that "democracy" really flourishes in India.
2. Northern Cyprus
Northern Cyprus is a disputed territory on the outskirts of Europe: an unrecognized country that is technically part of the European Union, but is under Turkish occupation. It is the only place in Europe where state-sponsored homophobia is still practiced.
According to section 171 in the country's statute book, same-sex sex is completely illegal and punishable by up to five years in prison, and it's not just some weird old law that wasn't repealed in time. In 2012, there were waves of arrests of LGBT people in the country - that is, the government considered the waste of time and effort of the police and public funds to capture people with a non-traditional orientation as a reasonable step.
It is noteworthy that there are no laws against homosexuality in Cyprus, but due to the occupation, adults in the north of the country are forced to fear for their safety.
3. Singapore
The city-state on the edge of the Malay Peninsula is a highly conservative place, so it's perhaps not surprising that homosexuality is illegal there. Another thing is strange: gay men and women are treated differently in this country. Since 2007, sexual relations between two women have been considered absolutely legal, but sex between two men threatens them with imprisonment for up to two years.
True, this law is rarely enforced, and there are all signs that the attitude towards homosexuals in Singapore will soon become less strict. However, there are fines for the media if they portray homosexuality in anything other than a negative light - for example, some TV stations have already paid these fines for showing a simple interview with a gay celebrity.
Of course, Singapore is far from the worst place on our list, but this country is not yet ready to accept people as they are.
4. Jamaica
If you want to know what it's like to live in constant fear, try claiming you're gay in Jamaica. LGBT people are often attacked with machetes and beaten just as often. In 2010, for example, a 16-year-old boy was hacked to death in his own house for one suspicion of having sex with a man. People are often slaughtered or set on fire for suspected homosexuality, and during the funeral of homosexuals, processions are attacked by people armed with stones and bottles.
The government supports this: for having sex with a person of your gender in Jamaica, you face up to ten years in prison ... if you're lucky. If you're not lucky, the local police will extort money from you, torture you or beat you half to death, and only then will you be thrown into jail. Jamaica for local LGBT representatives is a living hell on earth.
5. Uganda
Most states in Africa do not approve of LGBT people at best. At worst, they are fiercely pursued. There are, of course, a few notable exceptions, such as South Africa or Mozambique, but in general, gays and lesbians are not liked on the continent. In Uganda, the hatred reaches terrifying proportions.
If you, as a citizen of Uganda, have sex with a person of the same sex as you, you risk spending the next 14 years of your life in one of the worst prisons on Earth. Sometimes people have been arrested and expelled from the country for a song or play that mentions homosexuality, and the police humiliate gays in every possible way. LGBT rights activists face state harassment on a daily basis, and newspapers used to publish names and addresses of gay people along with incitement to lynching.
But even these horrors do not compare with the "kill the gay" bill - in other words, now the death penalty is due for homosexuality. So, in Uganda, the authorities are very concerned about what people do in bed, and are ready to kill them just for that.
6. Nigeria
Nigeria is arguably the most homophobic place on Earth. When asked if homosexuality should be accepted by society, 98% of respondents answered "no". This deep hatred is especially deeply rooted in the northern regions of the country, where the population lives according to Sharia law - here homosexuality is punishable by death. In particular, the law states that gays must be stoned to death - this inhumane form of execution in the rest of the world disappeared in the dark ages.
In the Christian south, the situation is not much better. Now homosexuality is punishable by 14 years in prison, and last year a law was passed according to which people cannot be mistaken if they accuse someone of homosexuality.
7. Afghanistan
Afghanistan is the epitome of a strict heterosexual culture. Despite the fact that in this place old men can have sex with nine-year-old boys, homosexuals are not allowed here. While in areas controlled by the Karzai government no longer get executed for doing so, outside of these areas, a homosexual has a very high chance of being killed.
It is also known about "honor killings" - runaway wives and daughters who refuse to marry the elderly are killed. Homosexuals in Afghanistan are another type of target, but they can be dealt with "softer", for example, forced to marry under the threat of expulsion from the country. In the near future, the situation may become even worse.
8. Türkiye
Although homosexuality is not considered a crime in Turkey, extreme violence is often used against LGBT people. If, for example, you are a transgender woman and live in Turkey, you may suddenly be arrested, the police will blackmail you, and you will be severely beaten in prison. 89% of the detained transgender women were attacked, and it is not uncommon that they are killed or maimed by strangers.
The killing of homosexuals in honor killings has reached epidemic proportions, and very often the police and the courts are reluctant to press charges. LGBT organizations and related websites are often shut down, and homophobia in Turkey is widespread across all classes of society.
And this is happening in a country that wants to become part of the European Union, a country that is proud of its modern democracy of the 21st century.
9. Iran
The real hell for homosexuals is in Iran. In remote areas of the country, LGBT people are whipped, tortured, raped and even executed with shocking regularity. Thanks to a 1987 bill that legalized sexual change, parents of homosexual children regularly force them to undergo hormonal treatment against their will, and local gangsters kill people for gender reassignment surgery.
In the West, sexual equality also did not come immediately - the rights of LGBT people were recognized relatively recently. And the attitude towards them in other countries shows that people as a race still have a long way to go to become truly human.
Keywords: Homosexuality | Homophobia | LGBT | Lesbians | Hatred | Country