As a socially conservative country, where Islam is the official religion and Sharia law is applied, Algeria is a particularly difficult place for LGBTQ people.

Is homosexuality legal in Algeria?

No. Algeria’s laws include a specific prohibition of homosexual sexual encounters.

The penalties can include imprisonment up to two years, and a significant fine. These penalties can be increased if the offence is also considered an outrage to public decency.

The relevant provisions are Article 338 and Article 333 of Algeria’s penal code.

Are there any protections against discrimination based on sexuality?

Unsurprisingly, there are no anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people.

Homophobia is systemic, forcing queer people to conceal their sexuality.

What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Algeria?

There are reports of hate-crimes against LGBTQ people, and that the Algerian authorities are often complicit in these attacks.