SEEN

FOR LGBTQI + SYRIANS, LAWYERS, AND ACTIVISTS

This legal booklet was developed to support LGBTQ+ Syrians, lawyers, and activists in understanding the Syrian legal system and how it directly impacts LGBTQ+ lives. In a context where same-sex relations and gender nonconformity are criminalized, and where legal procedures are often opaque, arbitrary, and punitive, access to clear and practical legal knowledge becomes a matter of safety and survival.

The booklet provides an overview of the key legal provisions most commonly used to criminalize LGBTQ+ individuals in Syria, alongside an explanation of arrest practices, interrogation procedures, and judicial processes. It aims to equip readers with the knowledge needed to navigate legal risks, understand their rights, and respond more effectively when facing detention, prosecution, or harassment by security forces.

Beyond outlining laws and procedures, this guide situates legal persecution within its broader social and political context. It reflects how moral policing, vague legal definitions, and discretionary enforcement have been used to target LGBTQ+ people, particularly during periods of intensified repression. It also highlights how the fragmentation of authority and judicial systems during the conflict has further complicated access to justice and legal protection.

Importantly, this booklet is not only a legal reference—it is also a tool for empowerment and advocacy. It offers practical guidance for individuals at risk, recommendations for personal and digital safety, and insights for lawyers and activists working to provide legal support under highly restrictive conditions. By documenting legal practices and their consequences, the guide seeks to challenge normalization of abuse, support accountability efforts, and contribute to a more informed and rights-based approach to defending LGBTQ+ Syrians.

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Author:

Diaa Al-Ali

Co-Researchers:

Aram Midani

Hasnaa Alojaili

Proofreader:

Cory Rodgers

Acknowledgments

This legal booklet is a collaborative effort by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and SEEN for Gender & Sexual Equity (SGSE). The views expressed within are those of the authors and do not necessarily align with the positions of FES.