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Ahmad says gay men meet each other in shopping centers, parks, and gyms. They also meet in private in underground cafes, apartments, and in cars during the night. Ahmad is a practicing Muslim, but he says his sexuality has made him question his religion. Ahmad says he wants out of Afghanistan and has plans to seek asylum in the United States.
Despite the overwhelming public stance against it, homosexuality exists in Afghan society -- and in some forms it is even widespread. The ancient practice of "bacha bazi" -- literally, dancing boys -- is common among wealthy and powerful men who exploit underage boys as sexual partners. The victims are often orphans or boys from poor families as young as The crime for "pederasty" -- sexual activity involving a man and a boy -- is punishable with "lengthy imprisonment" under Afghanistan's Penal Code, but it frequently goes unenforced.
Yet young boys are sometimes dressed as girls and made to perform. The boys are often sexually abused and raped. The practice of bacha bazi has reportedly spread since the fall of the Taliban, who declared it un-Islamic. Nemat Sadat, an Afghan-American gay-rights campaigner living in Washington, is working to change attitudes toward homosexuality in Afghanistan. Sadat was born in Afghanistan but raised in the United States. A year later, Sadat became the first Afghan gay man to publicly come out.

But he lost his job at the AUAF and was pressured by the authorities to leave the country, he said. Razaq, a year-old from the western Afghan city of Farah, is another gay man living in constant fear. If people find out that I'm gay, it would be a disaster.
Territory controlled by Al-Qaeda is ruled by a strict interpretation of Islamic or Sharia law. All sexual behavior outside of a lawful Islamic marriage is illegal, with the maximum punishment being death. When the Taliban gained control of the country in the s they criminalized all sexual relationships outside of the heterosexual marriage, [ citation needed ] and would often publicly execute men and women for committing fornication and adultery and for engaging in sodomy.
In , the Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Omar , saved a boy from being sodomized by two feuding generals in Kandahar and when he was subsequently given control of the city he decreed that both violent and mutually consensual sodomy would be capital crimes. The Afghanistan Law of Marriages stipulates that a legal marriage must be between two Muslim adults of the opposite sex, and that it must meet the rules of Islamic law. Hence, Afghanistan family law does not recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions or domestic partnerships. Likewise, the Afghanistan Law on Marriages, Weddings and Circumcision speaks of marriage as something between a Muslim man and woman and states that marriages must follow Islamic law.
Article states that it shall be treated as "Instigation of Delinquency" if an adult promotes or assists in the act of minors under 18 being involved in the act of adultery, homosexuality or prostitution. As of , no law exists in Afghanistan to address discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In response to foreign inquiries, the Afghan Social Democratic Party stated that it "favored an international effort to fight the AIDS-HIV pandemic, but that homosexuality and same-sex marriages are opposed by all great religions.
Afghanistan law currently prohibits a political party, interest group or social club from advocating anything that is in opposition to Islamic morality. Absent a change in the law, it is unlikely that a political or social organization advocating LGBT rights will be permitted to exist and promote its viewpoints.
Homosexuality and cross-dressing are widely seen as taboo and indecent activities, owing to traditional Islamic views concerning appropriate gender roles and sexual conduct.
When publicly discussed, homosexuality is often linked with prostitution and pedophilia and the level of awareness about sexual orientation or gender identity is limited. In , Afghan news reporters interviewed men who had LGBT-pride symbols on their vehicles, to find out that the men were unaware of the meaning of the rainbow flags and stickers, thinking that it was just another western fad, and began quickly removing the rainbows to avoid being seen as a LGBT people or supporters of LGBT rights. The US Marine Corps' handbook for Operational Culture for Deploying Personnel May states that "homosexual behavior is relatively common, but taboo, in rural Afghanistan, because there are no other outlets for normal sexual energies.
In , Nemat Sadat , a former professor of political science at American University of Afghanistan , mobilized a LGBT movement [11] and on August 22, , he became the first public figure [12] to come out as gay and campaign for gender freedom and sexual liberation. Sadat is considered to have broken the taboos on cross-dressing and homosexuality in Afghanistan. Militia members generally do not have access to women, so boys are sometimes kidnapped to be humiliated and raped by adult men. These men involved are sometimes called bacha bazi in Persian and seem to flourish in the big cities of Afghanistan, possibly due to poverty and the strict social taboos surrounding interaction between men and women.
A law has been enacted prohibiting Afghan soldiers from having their "ashna" live with them. In , reports stated that the practice of bacha bazi is still prevalent in parts of northern Afghanistan. This practice involves teenage boys being dressed in women's clothing and made to participate in dance competitions and engage in sexual acts.
As of , the official number of people living with HIV-AIDS is , although the actual number is suspected of being higher, possibly in the thousands. Thus far, the bulk of the available resources have focused on fighting drug addiction and, to a lesser extent, the commercial sex industry. Access to anti-retroviral drugs is, at best, limited and preventive initiatives often conflict with deep-rooted taboos.
Legally, Article of the Afghanistan criminal code stipulates that a person that spreads a "dangerous disease" by accident shall be fined, but if the disease results in death or permanent disability the punishment shall be the same as if it were an accidental murder. We hope so! That person wanted to visit the border without a visa, in which case you need special permission. This has been in place for a while. When would you need it? Afghanistan has such incredible history, people and landscapes! Thanks a lot.
Published 13 January We acknowledge that the way in which he is able to live as a gay man in the UK is preferable for him and we are satisfied that this informs his view that it is "impossible" for him to return to Iran. The part of sexuality to be abandoned is on the evidence also the ability to live openly as a gay man in the same way the appellant can do elsewhere. Has great fondness for goats which is usually not reciprocated. April 24, at am. In the cities, persons convicted of homosexuality are generally sentenced to prison.
Hopefully the situation in the country will get beter, so more people can enjoy it! Travelled round Afghanistan in in a Landrover. Beautiful country and people. A magical experience of old Central Asia.
Tragic what has happened since then. Read your guide with nostalgia and a yearning to see it again, changed though it is. Thank you so much for the tips… Now, I have the ideas on how to haggle. I am glad I am reading your blog. Your blog is really great. More power! Excellent suggestions on travelling, Thank You very much, it will help me to decide to go or not to go, thank you again.
Excellent suggestions on travelling to afghanistan, it will help me to decide if travelling or not to afghanistan, and to look for the best moment. And yes, I have read The Places in Between. Such a gripping read… but augh! That ending! Thank you so much for your excellent, concise information. Does the May, update on safety apply to the Wakham Corridor? Thanks in advance! Still some of he cities far from the front lines are probably fine. Hello, Your guide is well done! I travelled in Afghanistan for a month in november mostly by land.
We almost could have met. I am going back there soon. Few things to add: 1. To see the Musalla complex the caretaker now wants a permit — you can do it for free in 10 minutes in the building of The Ministry of Culture and Information. They might give you a free booklet on Herat as well. The letter is quite useful to see other sights, which are normally not open to the public, including the old synagogue of Herat. Why did you take a taxi to Panjshir?
Shared taxis frequently run from Sarai Shamoli bus stand the same one you came to kabul from mazar and cost just AF per seat. The Khyber Pass IS open, I personally entered pakistan from afghanistan today without any paperwork, having just a passport with two valid visas. Some more things: 1. From there is a nice 10 km walk without steep climbing and with good mountain views at season time you may take a free lift from some tourists as well.
Btw, hitch-hiking works pretty well all over Bamyan province too.
I was traveled round Afghanistan in in a Land rover. Beautiful country and her people. It is excellent suggestions on travelling, Thank You for this, Because it will help me to decide to go. Unfortunately, this rather untypical situation for Muslim countries is only goes worse in recent years in Kabul.
Thank you so much for give the tips. Some told me its war in the last days, and that the taliban would kill me if i go, and i was also told a journalist was killed in last weeks during a taliban check point. I hope no just ask 1 or 2 locals who saying its safe and then decide to take the bus and gets killed or kidnapped. Apart from that its a good guide. Hello, You have a nice collection of photos.