In recent years, LGBT issues have increasingly drawn attention on the international stage, particularly among advocates who argue that sexual orientation constitutes a fundamental human right that must not be violated. These rights include the right to feel safe from harm, the right to fair treatment, and the right to be accepted in society like any other human being. However, each country's cultural and religious background significantly influences its perspective on LGBT issues. While many nations have begun to open up to LGBT rights, many others still firmly reject them, including countries in the Middle East. Countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, and Qatar are known for their deeply conservative policies and their strong adherence to religious and cultural values. To this day, numerous Middle Eastern nations not only strictly prohibit LGBT behavior but also impose severe penalties, including the death penalty. Moreover, their foreign policies also restrict any elements associated with LGBT identities from entering their territories.
Islam is the official and predominant religion in most Middle Eastern countries. As a result, their legal systems are largely based on Sharia law, which means that anything condemned by Islam is likely to be criminalized by the state. LGBT behavior is explicitly prohibited in Islam and is subject to severe punishment. Consequently, Islamic rejection of LGBT identities translates into state-level opposition in the Middle East, including the criminalization of promoting, supporting, or engaging in LGBT related activities.
A prominent example of this rejection occurred during the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosted by Qatar. The Qatari government implemented a range of policies deemed controversial and incompatible with Western football culture. Among these was a ban on any expression related to LGBT issues, such as waving rainbow flags, wearing clothing with LGBT symbols, or promoting LGBT rights in any form. These measures reflected Qatar's cultural and religious identity as a Muslim Arab nation. Western countries reacted negatively, accusing Qatar of being overly conservative and closed-minded. Western media outlets, particularly CNN which is known for its liberal stance and advocacy for individual rights and freedom of expression also voiced strong criticism of Qatar's policies.
In addition to Qatar, Iran enforces one of the harshest anti-LGBT legal frameworks in the world, including the death penalty for same sex relations. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Iranian government has actively enforced this punishment. Despite international reports condemning such practices, Iran continues to defend them as being in accordance with Islamic law (Syarifudin, 2024). Human rights activists estimate that between 4,000 and 6,000 gay and lesbian individuals have been executed in Iran since 1979 for crimes related to their sexual orientation (Khairiyati et al., 2021). Western nations and human rights-based governments have consistently condemned these actions as violations of the right to life.
The policies and treatment of LGBT individuals in Middle Eastern countries stand in sharp contrast to the views held by international organizations and countries that prioritize human rights, particularly Western nations such as the United States, Canada, and others. Canada, for example, has advocated for LGBT rights and opposed homophobia by presenting and discussing its proposals at a United Nations conference in Ecuador. Canada's initiatives were supported by the European Union, Mexico, and the United States, reflecting a broader trend of pro-LGBT advocacy among Western countries. In Asia, for instance, China has explored the possibility of legalizing same sex marriage with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which has also helped LGBT groups organize campaigns and secure funding, citing the protection of human rights as the foundation for such efforts (Khairiyati et al., 2021).
International organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) assert that human rights must guarantee equality for all individuals. Many international bodies emphasize the need to recognize and protect LGBT rights because international human rights instruments guarantee fundamental freedoms, including the right to free expression, protection from arbitrary detention, and freedom from torture. As of today, many countries have signed and ratified human rights conventions that affirm the fundamental rights of all individuals, including those identifying as LGBT. According to research by Khairiyati et al. (2021), the UDHR states that "everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association," which applies to LGBT communities whose existence is frequently challenged by public opinion. Furthermore, Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) affirms the right to peaceful assembly, which must be protected. This right may only be restricted by law under circumstances deemed necessary in a democratic society, such as concerns over national security, public safety, public order, public health or morals, or the rights and freedoms of others.
The ongoing conflict between global norms and local principles concerning LGBT rights illustrates that acceptance of such rights is far from universal. Countries in the Middle East, most of which apply Sharia law, continue to reject LGBT identities and expressions both in domestic and foreign policy. This rejection is reflected in the banning of LGBT symbols during international events like the 2022 Qatar World Cup, as well as in the implementation of capital punishment in Iran. On the other hand, Western countries such as the United States, Canada, and EU members actively promote the recognition and protection of LGBT rights as part of universal human rights. International organizations such as the UN and UNDP support these efforts by advocating for freedom of expression and association. These opposing views highlight a persistent tension between the universality of human rights and the sovereignty of local cultural and religious values. As long as no common ground is reached, this normative conflict will continue to challenge international relations and the development of global policies concerning minority rights, particularly those of the LGBT community.
Bibliography
Hasbuan, L. (2025). Daftar negara di dunia yang melarang LGBT, Indonesia termasuk. CNBC Indonesia. https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/lifestyle/20250217181340-33-611351/daftar-negara-di-dunia-yang-melarang-lgbt-indonesia-termasuk
Khairiyati, F., et al. (2021).  Tinjauan HAM internasional terhadap lesbian, gay, biseksual dan transgender (LGBT). Jurnal  Kertha Semaya, 9(3), 435-445. https://doi.org/10.24843/KS.2021.v09.i03.p06
