Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people face widespread prosecution in Uzbekistan.[4] Same-sex sexual activity between men is illegal in Uzbekistan. The punishment is up to 3 years in prison.[2] Uzbekistan is one of just 2 post-Soviet states in which male homosexual activity remains criminalized, along with Turkmenistan.[5]
Serious societal discrimination and abuse is directed towards LGBT persons, which includes mob violence, harassment, entrapment for the purpose of blackmail, and threats and use of violence. Despite the incidence of violence and intimidation, LGBT persons generally do not report these crimes to authorities for fear of further victimisation at their hands. There are reports of extortion by police, intimidation, arbitrary detention, assaults and other mistreatment of victims who have sought police assistance. Human rights violations by police also include torture, and severe beatings in detention. Vigilante attacks and mob violence, and other hate crimes, including murders, are targeted at LGBT individuals.[6]
The Uzbek government has dismissed the need for action to protect sexual minorities, with one official declaring that even if same-sex sexual activities were decriminalised, LGBT persons could not be kept safe. Community attitudes that fuel such anti-LGBT activity stem from the Uzbek "mentality", with their "religion, culture, and traditions" making "gay men and women" unacceptable in the country, according to the spokesperson.[3]
Legality of same-sex sexual activity
Laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual activity between men were enacted in the Uzbek SSR in 1926.[1] It is criminalised in present-day Uzbekistan by Article 120 of Uzbek's criminal code (1994):[2][7][8]
Besoqolbozlik, that is, voluntary sexual intercourse of two male individuals – shall be punished with imprisonment up to three years.
— § 120, Uzbek Penal Code 1994 (revised 2001)
Morality laws
Article 130 covers the distribution of pornographic materials. This provision and was strengthened in 2012:[9][10][relevant?]
Production with a purpose of demonstration and dissemination of, as well as demonstration and dissemination of obscene objects to persons under twenty-one of age committed after imposing of administrative penalty for the same actions – shall be punished with fine from one hundred to two hundreds minimal monthly wages or correctional labor up to three years.
— § 130, Uzbek Penal Code 1994 (amended 2001)
LGBT propaganda draft law
In November 2024, Alisher Qodirov the leader of the Milliy Tiklanish party announced that he was drafting a law banning discussions of LGBT people. Qodirov claimed the law was inspired by statements made by Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump about "LGBT propaganda" in schools.[11]
Constitution of Uzbekistan
In April 2023, the Constitution of Uzbekistan deliberately leaves out "sexual orientation" - despite all other categories explicitly being included - such as gender, race, religion and nationality.[12]
^ abHealey, Dan (2002). "Homosexual Existence and Existing Socialism: New Light on the Repression of Male Homosexuality in Stalin's Russia". GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies. 8 (3): 349–378. doi:10.1215/10642684-8-3-349. S2CID143578469.
^ abcBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (2021). "Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses". 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Uzbekistan (Report). United States Department of State. The law criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual conduct between men. Conviction is punishable by up to three years imprisonment. The law does not criminalize consensual same-sex sexual conduct between women.
^"Uzbekistan". Human Dignity Trust. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
