Malaysia

In Malaysia, LGBTIQ people face difficulty in many areas of life. Same-sex sexual acts are illegal, with punishments of up to twenty years imprisonment, caning, and fines. In addition to Malaysia’s national laws banning same-sex relations, several states impose Islamic Sharia law, which criminalizes same-sex relations and gender non-conformity. Due to these laws, LGBTIQ Malaysians are subject to arbitrary arrests, assault, extortion, and privacy violations by police and public officials. Hate crimes and extrajudicial killings are often carried out with impunity. In regions under Sharia Law, religious officials can impose greater punishments on Muslim LGBTIQ Malaysians. Malaysia’s censorship laws prohibit distributing, displaying, or creating materials the government deems “obscene” or “against public decency.” These censorship laws have been used to restrict LGBTIQ people’s freedom of expression and make it difficult for LGBTIQ groups to organize. Conservative religious leaders hold significant political and cultural power in Malaysia, and often publicly denounce LGBTIQ people as “un-Islamic” and “immoral,” which contributes to anti-LGBTIQ sentiment in Malaysia. Surveys have shown that a majority of people in Malaysia do not believe society should accept same-sex sexuality. “Conversion therapy” is regularly practiced and is publicly promoted by politicians and religious leaders.