Behind the Mask

BEHIND THE MASK a website on gay and lesbian affairs in Africa

algeria

about algeria
official name: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
capital: Algiers
head of State: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
state: Multi-party democracy
population: 32.3 million
independence: from France in 1962
languages: Arabic (official), French,
Berber dialects
religion: Sunni Muslim 99%
Christian and Jewish 1%
currency: Algerian Dinar
media:
La Tribune Online http://www.latribune-online.com El Watan http://www.elwatan.com
legal wise
status of homosexuality: illegal
age of consent: not maintained
laws relating to homosexuality:
According to Article 388 of the Penal Code (adopted June 8 1966) sodomy may be punished with imprisonment from two months to two years and a fine (500 - 2,000 Alg dinars. Sodomy upon a male person under 18 years may be punished with imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to 10,000 dinars.

On June 19 1984 a "Code de Famille" based on Islamic principles was passed. Sodomy may be punished with imprisonment from two months to two years. (From chapter by Jehuda Sofer, in "Sexuality and Eroticism among Males in Moslem Societies")

Article 338 reads: "Anyone guilty of a homosexual act is punishable with imprisonment of between 2 months and two years, and with a fine of 500 to 2000 Algerian Dinars. If one of the participants is below 18 years old, the punishment for the older person can be raised to 3 years' imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 dinars".

Article 333: (law no 82.04 of 13.2.1982, J.O. No. 7) on an outrage to public decency, increase in penalties in the case of acts against nature with a member of the same sex. When the outrage to public decency has consisted of an act against nature with an individual of the same sex, the penalty is imprisonment of between 6 months and 3 years, and a fine of between 1,000 and 10,000 Algerian Dinar.

While the constitution recognizes the right to freedom of association, authorities frequently limit civic associations, political parties, and trade unions through bans on demonstrations, police harassment, and rejection of applications for legal recognition. For more info, see Freedom House's report, www.freedomhouse.org/research/crossroads/2005/algeria2005.pdf
background information and government attitudes:
9.95: At UN 4th Conference on Women in Beijing opposed the (unsuccessful) proposal for inclusion of references to "sexual orientation" in the draft "Platform for Action" (DS)

Abstained from voting on ILGA's consultative status at the UN in January 2002.
communication
mainline telephones: 2, 3 million (1999)
cellular telephones: 33, 500 (1999)
internet country code: .dz
internet service providers: 2 (2000)
internet users: 20, 000 (2000)
algeria links and contacts
N'DéeSses: Arab and North African Lesbian Collective http://www.sehakia.org

Kelma: Le site des beurs gays/French language site for the Moroccan, Algerian and Tunesian communities in France. http://www.kelma.org

Algerigay: French site on gay Algeria: de la situation de la gays en Algerie, SOS, annonces, photos.
www.ffaid.org/algerigay

les gays brisent le tabou en algérie
Aout 2005: Une communauté gay en algérie brisent le tabou et non pas aucun complexe àpparaître au grand jour. Plus...

gays en algérie: l'homophobie retournée contre soi!
Juillet 2005: la société algérienne reste conservatrcice malgré le progres quelle connai. Plus...

j'ai 23 ans, je suis gay, et je vis en algerie
Juillet 2005: Toute personne en algerie doit savoir que l,hommosexualité n,est pas un choix c,est le destin. Plus...

gay algerian faces deportation after 10 years in uk
February 21, 2005: After living a happy, secure life in Britain since he was 15, a 25-year old gay Algerian, Saad B, now faces being torn apart from his lover and deported to his violently homophobic homeland of Algeria, says OutRage!. More…

gay man seeks asylum in uk
December 2, 2004: The campaign around the case of Ramzi Isalam hots up as UK activist group, OutRage! adopt his cause and go public with their demands. More…

amsterdam: the moroccan quandary
November 1, 2004: Amsterdam is known as a liberal city, where just about anything is allowed, but it is also a multicultural city where permissive Dutch law does not always sit well with conservative immigrants. Dutch liberals and gay immigrants alike face a multi-layered issue. More…

militantisme homosexuel au maghreb
2003: Au début des années 90, une ONG marocaine désirant faire de la prévention sida auprès des homosexuels s'était heurtée au problème de l'inexistence d'un milieu gay et s'est contentée de travailler dans celui de la prostitution qui était déjà mieux organisé et plus visible. Plus...

les gays quittent le pays
Février 2002: Depuis deux ans, de plus en plus gays algériens choisissent de quitter leur pays pour se réfugier en Europe ou aux Etats-Unis. Leur point commun: vouloir vivre leur homosexualité sans trop renier leur identité d'arabe ou de musulman. Pour Johanna Wirt-Steiner. Plus...

gay algerian granted asylum in france
January 1997: Gay Algerian granted asylum in France. Reuters reported that a gay Algerian has become the first person to win political asylum in France on grounds his life was in danger because of his sexual orientation. More...

lesbians never killed anybody in the name of god
1995: During the Beijing Women Conference Dyke TV interviewed Algerian Dalila Kadri: 'I¹m here in Beijing to meet lesbian women from all over the world and lesbian Arabs specifically. I¹m here at the NGO Forum having a really great time. All that energy coming out from women being together. More...