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Latest backlashes

Find more about the latest contestations of gender equality in nine countries of the MENA Region below.

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Rights at stake and state’s obligations

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Turkey

14 Nov 2022

Interior Minister calls LGBTQI ‘cultural terrorism’

Political homophobia Anti-gender Heads of State/Government Officials Freedom of expression, thought, conscience and religion Sexual and reproductive health and rights Hate-speech

Morocco/Western Sahara

27 Jul 2022

Former PM tweets homophobic theory on Monkeypox

Political homophobia Anti-gender Sexual and reproductive health and rights Freedom from discrimination Heads of State/Government Officials Hate-speech

Turkey

5 Jul 2022

Singer of gay love song targeted by hate campaign

Anti-gender Freedom of expression, thought, conscience and religion Sexual and reproductive health and rights Citizens' Initiative State Institutions/Bodies Hate-speech Judicial harassment (incl. Arbitrary Arrests, Bans, and Detentions)

Egypt

1 Jul 2022

Anti-LGBTQI+ social media campaign launched in Egypt

Citizens' Initiative Hate-speech Anti-gender Freedom of expression, thought, conscience and religion

Jordan

1 Oct 2021

Backlash against Ministry of Education’s gender mainstreaming courses

Citizens' Initiative Political Party Heads of State/Government Officials Hate-speech Anti-gender Sexual and reproductive health and rights Freedom from discrimination

Turkey

13 Sep 2021

LGBTIQ pop-star calls off concert after smear campaign

Media Smearing campaign/Diffamation Hate-speech Political homophobia Freedom from discrimination Freedom from violence Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Syria

1 Aug 2021

Religious cleric calls women working in civil society “recruits of the UN and the West”

Religious Leaders and/or Institutions Spread of false information Hate-speech Religious-based discourse Anti-feminism Freedom from violence Freedom from discrimination Highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

Morocco/Western Sahara

1 Mar 2021

Extremist flyers threaten women in Tangier

Citizens' Initiative Hate-speech Statement/Publication Religious-based discourse Conservatism Freedom from violence Freedom from discrimination Freedom of movement

Egypt

1 Feb 2021

Promotion of conversion therapy for LGBTIQ persons online

Citizens' Initiative Enactment of violence (offline/online) Hate-speech Anti-gender Freedom from violence Freedom from discrimination Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Turkey

1 Feb 2021

Anti-LGBTIQ hate speech from the President and a governmental official amidst student protests

Heads of State/Government Officials Statement/Publication Hate-speech Anti-gender Sexual and reproductive health and rights Freedom from discrimination