Uzbekistan’s Homophobia: #NotBuyingIt

Recently, Uzbekistan has amped-up its tourism advertisement. Influencers, YouTubers and bloggers are being paid by the Uzbek government to sell you the country as colourful, fun and safe to travel – even as an LGBTQ+ person. 

But nothing could be further from the truth.

Uzbekistan is currently one of the most dangerous countries for LGBTQ+ people in the world.

Consensual sex between adult men is a criminal offence, punishable by up to three years in prison (Article 120 of the Criminal Codex). Doctors in Uzbekistan not only report HIV-positive GBT people to the police, but also perform forced anal examinations - which are accepted by the courts as “proof” of homosexual activity. The UN Committee against Torture (OHCHR) received reports of arbitrary arrests and violence: Electric shocks, burning, tearing out fingernails and sexual assault are only a small part of what goes on in Uzbekistan’s jails and prisons at the hands of those in power.

LGBTQ+ people are subject to blackmail at the hands of corrupt police officers, while crimes committed against members of the LGBTQ+ community most often go uninvestigated. Outed LGBTQ+ people are in danger of violence not only from the state, but from their own families. 

In spite of all that, the UN World Tourism Organisation chose Samarkand as 2023 World Tourism Capital.

Tell the Uzbek government that you’re not buying their propaganda! Boycott tourism to Uzbekistan until LGBTQ+ human rights are respected!

#NotBuyingIt #freeUzbekLGBTQ #repeal120