LGBT rights in Yemen

Homosexuality is still illegal in Yemen in accordance to the country's Shari'ah legal system. Punishment ranges from flogging to death. Yemen is one of only seven countries to apply a death penalty for consensual sexual acts between adults of the same sex.

In terms of human rights, the security forces have been responsible for torture, inhumane treatment and even extrajudicial executions. According to the Embassy of Yemen, in recent years there has been some improvement, with the government signing several international human rights treaties, and even appointing a woman, Wahiba Fara’a, to the role of Minister of the State of Human Rights. Other sources state that many problems persist alongside allegations that these reforms have not been fully implemented and that abuses still run rampant, especially in the areas of women's rights, freedom of the press, torture and police brutality. Freedom of the speech, the press and religion are all restricted. Gay and lesbian websites are blocked by the government.

As of 2007, there was no public or semi-public space for gays as in other countries. The official position is that there are no gays in Yemen, yet Yemeni law that stipulates severe punishment for homosexual activity acknowledges its existence.