Unseen and Under Siege: What’s Next for Queer Lives in the MENA Region? (Analysis)
LGBTQIA+ communities in the MENA region have long been the subject of headlines and news reports. From having their basic rights publicly debated to experiencing multiple forms of discrimination for their mere existence, queer individuals residing in such countries have often found themselves under scrutiny or even attack. Given its longstanding, complex history characterized by patterns of legal and social repression of LGBTQIA+ individuals, the MENA region, whose political scene is largely influenced by conservative views and traditional values, has sparked heated conversation about the extent to which it has become particularly hostile for queer communities.