Guidance

Country policy and information note: sexual orientation and gender identity, Algeria, July 2026 (accessible)

Updated 19 August 2026

Reference: DZA-002-08-26, July 2026

Summary: Updated information on the treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people, and people of other sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBT+) in Algeria since May 2025.

Summary

Same sex activity in Algeria is penalised under Article 338 of the penal code with a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and a fine. Article 333 also penalises acts of ‘public indecency’ with a maximum penalty of 3 years imprisonment and a fine. The law applies to same sex acts between both men and women.

Evidence regarding the treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people, and people of other sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBT+) by state and non-state actors is scarce and there has been minimal new country of origin information published in the time since the Country Policy and Information Note (CPIN) Algeria: Sexual orientation and gender expression or expression was last substantively updated and published. Decision makers must therefore continue to follow the information, country guidance and assessment contained in that CPIN.

LGBT+ people form a particular social group (PSG) in Algeria within the meaning of the Refugee Convention.

LGBT+ people are unlikely to face persecution or serious harm from non-state actors (outside of their families).

A person who fears the state is unlikely to obtain protection. A person who fears a rogue state actor and/or non-state actor is unlikely to obtain protection from the state. This is because in general, the state is able but not willing to offer effective protection.

Where the person has a well-founded fear of persecution or serious harm from the state, they are unlikely to be able to relocate to escape that risk. Where the threat is from a non-state actor, internal relocation is likely to be viable for gay males, however lesbians and transgender females may face difficulties due to societal attitudes to their gender rather than sexuality.

Where a claim is refused, it is unlikely to be certifiable as ‘clearly unfounded’ under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

All cases must be considered on their individual facts, with the onus on the person to demonstrate they face persecution or serious harm.

Country information

About this bulletin

The topic, structure and content are designed to provide a summary of the current situation for actual and perceived lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and people of other sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBT+) in Algeria.

The COI provides the basis for the summary. Decision makers must use relevant COI as the evidential basis for decisions.

The cut-off date for COI included in this bulletin is 5 August 2026.

For details on how CPIT makes its assessments, gathers and presents country information, its research methodology and disclaimers and explainers on coverage, source selection, maps, translations and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in developing CPIT products, see About country policy and information notes.

1. Legal context

1.1.1 The legal situation remains unchanged since the publication of the Country Policy and Information (CPIN) Algeria: Sexual orientation and gender expression or expression in May 2025.

1.1.2 In June 2026, Human Dignity Trust, an organisation of legal experts that work to challenge and overturn laws that criminalise LGBT people^{[footnote 1]}, updated its webpage for Algeria, which stated:

‘Same-sex sexual activity is prohibited under the Penal Code 1966, which criminalises “acts of homosexuality” and “public indecency”.

‘… Penal Code 1966, Article 338 Homosexuality

‘Article 338 criminalises “acts of homosexuality” with a maximum penalty of two years and a fine of 2000 dinars [£11.15^{[footnote 2]}]. The law applies to such acts both between men and between women.

‘Penal Code 1966, Article 333 Acts against nature

‘Article 333 (modified) increases the penalty for “public indecency” if it involves people of the same sex, whether between men or between women. The maximum penalty is three years and a fine of up to 10,000 dinars [£55.78^{[footnote 3]}].’^{[footnote 4]}

1.1.3 The Human Dignity Trust webpage was updated in June 2026, but did not cite any cases of enforcement of the law after 2023^{[footnote 5]}.

1.1.4 CPIT was unable to find additional updated COI relevant to this subsection since the publication of the CPIN Algeria: Sexual orientation and gender expression or expression, within the sources consulted (see Bibliography).

2. State attitudes and treatment

2.1.1 In May 2024, EuroMed Rights, ‘one of the largest and most active networks of human rights organisations in the Euro-Mediterranean region’^{[footnote 6]}, published an article entitled ‘Algeria: A Member of Parliament calls for capital punishment for transgender people’ which stated that ‘During a parliamentary session dedicated to discussing the draft Criminal Procedure Code, Ben Amar Fawzi, member of an Islamist party, provoked strong reactions by calling for the introduction of the death penalty not only for individuals convicted of pedophilia but also for transgender people.’^{[footnote 7]}

2.1.2 CPIT was unable to find additional updated COI relevant to this subsection since the publication of the CPIN Algeria: Sexual orientation and gender expression or expression, within the sources consulted (see Bibliography).

3. Societal treatment

3.1.1 In May 2025, Aabbir, a Moroccan online newspaper^{[footnote 8]} published the article entitled ‘Algerian university opens door to “homosexuality”’, translated from Arabic using AI, which reports on a leaked exam paper from the faculty of foreign languages at the University of Oran which contained a question on ‘the topic of homosexuals’. The Dean of the college, Bouayad Nabila, disavowed the behaviour and cancelled the exam, and stated:

‘”Due to the sensitivity of the subject and its inappropriateness to the constitutional and academic context of Algerian society, not to mention the moral, social and cultural values of our society, we affirm that this behavior is individual and isolated and does not fully reflect the general direction of the faculty administration in respecting our values, ethics and our commitments to the pedagogical controls adopted by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.”’^{[footnote 9]}

3.1.2 CPIT was unable to find additional updated COI relevant to this subsection since the publication of the CPIN Algeria: Sexual orientation and gender expression or expression, within the sources consulted (see Bibliography).

4. Media attitudes

4.1.1 CPIT was unable to find additional updated COI relevant to this subsection since the publication of the CPIN Algeria: Sexual orientation and gender expression or expression, within the sources consulted (see Bibliography).

5. Access to services and civic rights

5.1.1 CPIT was unable to find additional updated COI relevant to this subsection since the publication of the CPIN Algeria: Sexual orientation and gender expression or expression, within the sources consulted (see Bibliography).

6. LGBTI groups

6.1.1 In March 2026, Outright International, a global human rights organization that defends and advances the rights LGBTIQ+ people^{[footnote 10]}, updated their webpage for Algeria which stated that ‘There is a strong and growing LGBTIQ civil society in Algeria that is working to protect LGBTIQ people and decriminalize same-sex sexual activity. However, government agencies have denied LGBTIQ groups official registration for supposedly violating “public morals.”’^{[footnote 11]}

6.1.2 Alouen is an organisation for young LGBTQI+ people in Algeria. The group has around 12,000 followers on Facebook and, at the time of writing, were last active on the platform in July 2026^{[footnote 12]}. They have 12 thousand followers on Facebook. Alouen also have a radio show via Skype^{[footnote 13]}. Alouen last posted about their radio show in June 2025^{[footnote 14]}.

6.1.3 The unofficial national day for LGBT+ people in Algeria is known as ‘Le TenTen’ and is observed on 10 October each year^{[footnote 15]}. Alouen last posted celebrating the occasion in 2025^{[footnote 16]}. The day is celebrated by lighting a candle and sharing a post on Facebook to show solidarity with other LGBT+ people^{[footnote 17]}.

6.1.4 CPIT was unable to find additional updated COI relevant to this subsection since the publication of the CPIN Algeria: Sexual orientation and gender expression or expression, within the sources consulted (see Bibliography).

7. Freedom of movement

7.1.1 CPIT was unable to find additional updated COI relevant to this subsection since the publication of the CPIN Algeria: Sexual orientation and gender expression or expression, within the sources consulted (see Bibliography).

8. Protection

8.1.1 CPIT was unable to find additional updated COI relevant to this subsection since the publication of the CPIN Algeria: Sexual orientation and gender expression or expression, within the sources consulted (see Bibliography).

Bibliography

Unless otherwise stated, all sources were accessed between 13 and 20 July 2026

Sources cited

Aabbir,

About, no date

Algerian university opens door to ‘homosexuality’, 15 May 2025

Algeria Times,

About, no date

Huge increase in the number of homosexuals and cheap prostitution in Algeria, 18 January 2026

EuroMed Rights,

About, no date

Algeria: A Member of Parliament calls for capital punishment for transgender people, 7 May 2025

Facebook, Alouen, accessed 21 July 2026

Human Dignity Trust,

Algeria, last updated 26 June 2026

Who we are, no date

Jeune Afrique, TenTen, the Algerian Gay Pride in complete discretion, 9 October 2013

Outright International,

About, no date

Algeria, last updated 12 March 2026

The Global State of LGBTIQ Organizing, September 2023

StopHomophobie, Alouen: The radio station that fights against all forms of discrimination and violence against LGBT people in Algeria, 2 October 2013

University of Mascara, Staff, no date

Sources consulted but not cited

76 crimes, Algeria, no date

Advocate, Map: Which countries enlist gay soldiers, 22 September 2011

Africa Trans Network, search: Algeria, August 2026

Algerie 360, Support for homosexuality in France: will Algerian internationals refuse to play?, 15 May 2025

Alwan Foundation, The Gulf human rights report, 2024

Amnesty International,

Search: ‘Algeria LGBT’, August 2026

The State of the World’s Human Rights, April 2026

Arab Barometer, Algeria, no date

Article 19, The role of digital evidence in the persecution of LGBTQ people I Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia, March 2022

Association pour la dépénalisation universelle de l’homosexualité (ADUH), Persecution linked to the criminalization of homosexuality in Algeria, no date

Belaoudj Chaimaa , Algerian Youth’s Representations of Homosexuality: A Socio Field Study in the City of Mascara, 30 April 2026

Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index, Algeria, April 2026

Cairo 52, Category: Trans Archive, no date

Association pour la dépénalisation universelle de l’homosexualité, Pénalisation de l’homosexualité en Algérie, no date

Ecoi.net, Algeria - LGBT - 01/08/2024 - 05/08/2026, August 2026

Euromed Rights, Joint Submission For The Review Of The Mid-Term Report Of The Universal Periodic Review, December 2025

Equaldex, LGBT Rights in Algeria, no date

Freedom House, Freedom in the World, 3 April 2025

Gay Voyageur, Guide gay d’Algérie, no date

Human Rights Watch, search ‘Algeria LGBT’, August 2026

ILGA, Database, no date

Jeune Afrique, Homophobie, no date

Legal Aid Board Ireland, COI query response Algeria - law and treatment of members of the lgbtqi community, 22 August 2024

LGBT Hero, Which countries criminalise homosexuality, February 2025

Lib guides, Middle East and North Africa: LGBTQ issues, no date

Le Monde, En Afrique, des lois de plus en plus sévères pour réprimer l’homosexualité, 7 April 2026

Le Monde Diplomatique, Being Gay in Algeria, August 2019

Nassima Boulahdour & Zoubir Arous, The sociology of religious values among homosexuals in Algeria, 15 Mach 2025

Nomadic Boys, Gay travel guide to Algeria for first-timers, 7 June 2025

Observatoire des inégaltés, Dans 64 pays sur 193, l’homosexualité est interdite, 9 October 2025

Pink News, All 65 countries where it’s illegal to be LGBTQ+ in 2025 …, 9 July 2025

Radio France, The repression of homosexuality is increasing on the African continent, 20 February 2026

The Record, LGBTQ+ people in Middle East and North Africa subject to intense digital oppression, research find, 17 July 2024

SOShomophobie, Rapport sur les LGBTIphobies, 2025

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1. Human Dignity Trust, Who we are, no date ↩

2. Xe.com, 2000 DZD to GBP, calculated 20 July 2026 ↩

3. Xe.com, 10000 DZD to GBP, calculated 20 July 2026 ↩

4. Human Dignity Trust, Algeria, last updated 26 June 2026 ↩

5. Human Dignity Trust, Algeria, last updated 26 June 2026 ↩

6. EuroMed Rights, About, no date ↩

7. EuroMed Rights, Algeria: A Member of Parliament calls for capital punishment…, 7 May 2025 ↩

8. Aabbir, About, no date ↩

9. Aabbit, Algerian university opens door to ‘homosexuality’, 15 May 2025 ↩

10. Outright International, About, no date ↩

11. Outright International, Algeria, last updated 12 March 2026 ↩

12. Facebook, Alouen, viewed 21 July 2026 ↩

13. StopHomophobie, Alouen: The radio station that fights against all forms of…, 2 October 2013 ↩

14. Facebook, Alouen, viewed 21 July 2026 ↩

15. Outright International, The Global State of LGBTIQ Organizing (Page 40), September 2023 ↩

16. Facebook, Alouen, viewed 21 July 2026 ↩

17. Jeune Afrique, TenTen, the Algerian Gay Pride in complete discretion, 9 October 2013 ↩