By Arsham Parsi Executive Director Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees (IRQR) www.irq.net Iranian queers have well-founded fears of persecution based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The Penal Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran, permits the punishment of queer people by lashing, hanging, stoning, cutting in half by a sword, or dropping from
Iran is home to one of the world’s oldest continuous major civilizations, with historical and urban settlements dating back to 4000 BC. In 2006, about 45% of the government’s budget came from oil and natural gas revenues, and 31% came from taxes and fees. LGBT rights in Iran since the Iranian Revolution of 1979 have come under governmental persecution, with international human rights groups reporting public floggings and executions of lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals. Transsexuality in Iran is legal if accompanied by a sex change operation; however, transsexuals still report societal intolerance. Any type of sexual activity outside of a heterosexual marriage is forbidden. Gay men are treated far more harshly under the law than lesbians. Read More. Also see: Islam and Homosexuality
Name: Iran
Population: 70473000
Capital: Tehran - Pop. 7405000
Area: 1648195 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: Persian
Religion: Muslim
Status of Homosexuality: Illegal
Telephone Country Code: 98
Gay Iran: No Place to Call Home
This is a brief no-nonsense introduction to homosexuality in Iran. Following this are three stories about being gay and Iranian.