Lebanon urged to abolish anti-LGBT law, after military acquits soldiers on 'sodomy' charges

Lebanon urged to abolish anti-LGBT law, after military acquits soldiers on 'sodomy' charges
Lebanon has been urged to end laws against the country's LGBT community.
1 min read
02 April, 2019
Lebanon's military refused to prosecute four servicemen for 'sodomy' [Getty]

Lebanon has been urged to abolish a law criminalising homosexuality after the top military prosecutor declined to prosecute a "sodomy" case.

The rights group called the decision, which was publicised Monday, a "positive development", according to AP.

A decades-old law punishes sexual relations "contrary to nature" with up to one year in prison, however, the law is rarely enforced in Lebanon, which is less conservative than other countries in the region.

Civilian courts have challenged the law in recent years, but this is the first such challenge from a military prosecutor.

The English-language Daily Star reported Monday that a top military prosecutor declined to charge four service members for violating the law, saying the law does not explicitly criminalise "sodomy".