Why are gay men being arrested in Tunisia?

According to reports from local community organisations, police operations are underway across Tunisia - targeting and arresting gay men.

Damj - the Tunisian Association for Justice and Equality - has recorded 14 gay men arrested in recent days. Five men were arrested on the southern island of Djerba, and nine men were arrested in Tunis - the capital of Tunisia.

Based on the reporting by Damj, police use body-searches as well as searches of devices such as phones to gather evidence of same-sex sexual activity. Damj estimates that at least 84 gay men have been arrested within the last 12 months, with many sentenced to prison terms of one to two years.

The persecution of queer people in Tunisia has also been flagged by Amnesty International - highlighting the use of forced anal examinations as part of the investigation process.

It's not clear what is driving the continued persecution of gay men in Tunisia but the general pattern is that authorities seek to create scapegoats in vulnerable minorities when they are wanting to distract from wider issues such as economic and political instability.

What's life like for LGBTQ people in Tunisia?

What’s life like for queer people in Tunisia? Let's take a look at some of the key equality indicators.

Is homosexuality legal in Tunisia?

Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are illegal in Tunisia.

Punishment is up to three years in prison.

Are there any discrimination protections for LGBTQ people in Tunisia?

There are no discrimination protections for LGBTQ people.

Is there Marriage Equality in Tunisia?

There is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Tunisia.

What's life like for LGBTQ people in Tunisia?

Tunisia is a socially conservative country, and it’s clear that it’s not a great place to be a queer person.

In recent years, there have been a number of reported incidents of gay men being harassed, persecuted, and imprisoned. Anal probes have been used extensively by authorities in attempts to prove that men were gay.

There have been examples of foreign tourists being entrapped and prosecuted for gay sex.You are also potentially placing local gay men in danger if you contact guys using dating or hook-up apps.

What's the history of LGBTQ people in Tunisia?

Like much of the Islamic world, up until the beginning of the 19th century, homosexuality was generally accepted as part of normal society. In some instances, specific roles or functions were reserved for men who identified as homosexuality.

The Penal Code introduced in 1913 specifically criminalised sodomy.