SEEN

This legal guide was developed to support LGBTQI+ Syrians, lawyers, and activists in understanding the Syrian legal system and its direct impact on LGBTQI+ 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 guide provides an overview of the legal provisions most commonly used to criminalize LGBTQI+ individuals in Syria, alongside explanations of arrest practices, interrogation procedures, and judicial processes. It equips readers with essential knowledge 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, the guide situates legal persecution within its broader social and political context, highlighting how moral policing, vague legal definitions, and discretionary enforcement have been used to target LGBTQI+ people, particularly during periods of intensified repression and conflict.

This booklet is not only a legal reference but also a tool for empowerment and advocacy. It includes practical guidance on personal and digital safety, recommendations for individuals at risk, and insights for lawyers and activists providing legal support under highly restrictive conditions. By documenting legal practices and their consequences, the guide challenges the normalization of abuse and supports accountability and rights-based advocacy.

Author: Diaa Al-Ali
Co-Researchers: Aram Midani, Hasnaa Alojaili
Proofreader: Cory Rodgers
Produced by: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) & SEEN for Gender & Sexual Equity (SGSE)
The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of FES.

[Download Guide]