Commission of Murder by LGBT or Intersex Individuals

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Gorgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gorgan, Iran (Corresponding Author)

2 Graduate with a Master's degree in Criminal Law and Criminology, Department of Law, Islamic Azad University, Gorgan Branch, Gorgan, Iran.

Abstract

LGBT is an acronym referring to individuals who are non-heterosexual and non-cisgender. Sexual orientation and sexual behavior beyond heterosexuality include homosexuality, bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexuality. However, the LGBT community is not limited to non-heterosexual orientations; it also encompasses transgender, queer, and intersex individuals. Sexual and gender minorities—including intersex or non-binary (khuntha) individuals—have always been part of our societies. One of the most significant legal challenges concerns the criminal liability and punishment of LGBT or intersex individuals. A key issue arises when such individuals commit serious crimes such as murder: how should they be punished? The central question addressed in this study is how Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and legal systems approach the application of qisas (retributive justice) to intersex individuals, and how the dominant gender is determined for the purpose of sentencing. This research adopts a descriptive-analytical method to examine murder committed by LGBT or intersex individuals. Since gender plays a decisive role in the application of qisas, the rules of Islamic criminal law are shaped accordingly. There is limited debate among jurists and legal scholars regarding qisas for "problematic intersex" individuals (khuntha mushkil), but the main issue in jurisprudence pertains to "non-problematic intersex" individuals (khuntha ghayr mushkil). Therefore, it is necessary to base legal judgment on the dominant gender. Accordingly, if an intersex individual clearly exhibits dominant male or female characteristics, the ruling on qisas should be based on that dominant gender. In practice, it is essential to determine the prevailing gender identity of the intersex individual in question and to issue the qisas verdict accordingly. Given the current legal vacuum surrounding such issues, there is an urgent need for the legislature to develop clear and effective legal provisions addressing them.

Keywords

References

- Davoudi Garmarodi, Homa, Begdali, Hassan, Lashkari, Azar, Sajjad, (1400), Recognizing the Effects of Gender Change in Crimes and Punishments, Journal of Medical Law, Volume 15, Number 56.
- Divsalar Mohajer, Sofia, Divsalar, Baitullah, Melai Kendlos, Fakhrullah, (1400), Retribution of bisexuals in Islam, Azad Scientific Quarterly of Legal Research, 14th volume, number 52.
- Farahti, Abbas Ali, Matin, Mehdi, (2014), Punishment for participation in murder, Semnan University Islamic Jurisprudence and Law Studies Journal, Volume 7, Number12.
- Ibn Manzoor, Abul Fazl Muhammad bin Makram, (1414) AH, Lasan al-Arab, volume 8, Beirut, Lebanon, Dar al-Fikr for printing and publishing and al-Tawzi’
-Abbaszadeh Ahri, Hassan, (1378), Crimes and Punishments in Islam (Criminal and Judicial Laws in Islam, 1st edition, Tehran, Aydin Publishing House.
-ahAkhtab Khwarazm, Muwafq bin Ahmad, (1401), AH, Manaqib Abi Hanifa, Beirut, Dar al-Fikr.
-Roughgarden, Joan (2004). Evolution's Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and People. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-24073-1.
-Bagemihl, Bruce (1999). Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. London: Profile Books, Ltd. ISBN 1-86197-182-6.
-Crompton, Louis (2003). Homosexuality and Civilization. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
-Driscoll, Emily V. (July 2008). "Bisexual Species: Unorthodox Sex in the Animal Kingdom". Scientific American.
-Fadel Handi, Muhammad bin Hassan, (1422), AH, Kashf al-Latham on the Qur'an of Al-Ahkam, Qom, Dar al-Kitab al-Islamiya.
-Haji Dehabadi, Ahmed, (1392), evaluation of developments in the Islamic Penal Code approved in 1392 regarding retribution and female dowry, strategic studies of women, volume 15, number 60.
-Harper, Douglas (2001). "Bisexuality". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 16 February.
-Hosseini Maraghi, Mir Abd al-Fattah, (1417), A.H., Al-Anawin, Volume 1, Qom, Al-Tashr al-Islami Institute affiliated with Jama'ah al-Madrasin.
-Ibn Idris Hali, (1411) AH, Kitab al-Sara'r al-Hawi for Tahrir al-Fatawi, Qom, Islamic Publishing House.
 -Ibn Qudama, Abdullah, (Bi Tarikh), al-Mughani, Beirut, Dar al-Kitab al-Arab
-Jasas, Ahmed bin Ali, (1415), AH, the rules of the Qur'an, the third volume, published by Abdus Salam Muhammad Ali Shahin, Beirut, Dar al-Fikr.
-Jaziri, Abdur Rahman, (1406), AH, Fiqh Ali al-Mahabh al-Arba, Volume 5, Dar Ihya al-Trath al-Arabi.
-Khatib Sharbini, Muhammad bin Ahmad, (1421), AH, Mughni al-Muthaghat, vol. 4, Beirut, Dar al-Kitab al-Alamiya.110.
-Khattab, Hossein bin Muhammad, (1416), AH, Mohabeh Al-Jalil for Khalil's brief description, Beirut, Zakaria Amirat printing.
-Khoei, Abu al-Qasim, (1410), AH, Minhaj al-Salehin, Qom, Medina of Science
-Khoei, Abu al-Qasim, (1416-1423), AH, Surah al-Najah fi Ajuba al-Istftataat, with notes by Lejvad Tabrizi, Qom, Al-Al-Bayt Institute.
-Momin Qomi, Mohammad, (1375), a speech about gender change, Fiqh Ahl al-Bayt magazine, number 7.
-Montazeri, Hossein Ali, (1381), Medical rulings: according to the fatwas of the supreme jurist Ayatollah al-Ezni Montazeri, Tehran.
-Mousavi Khomeini, Seyyed Ruhollah, (2019), Tahrir al-Wasila, Vol. 2, Kitab al-Shehadat, Al-Qol fi Tasat al-Hawq, Forou, 3rd, Tehran, Imam Khomeini Works Editing and Publishing Institute.
-Najafi, Sheikh Mohammad Hassan, (1413), AH, Javaher Al-Kalam, 43 volumes, 339, Tehran, Islamiya Publishing House.
-Nawi, Yahya bin Sharaf, (Bita), al-Majmoj, Sharh al-Mahdaz, volume 2, Beirut, Dar al-Fikr.
-Roughgarden, Joan (2004). Evolution's Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and People. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-24073-1.
-Sadr, Muhammad, (1427), AH, Beyond Fiqh, Volume 8, Qom, Mohibin.
-Sarkhsi, Muhammad bin Ahmad Shams al-Aimah, (1406), Kitab al-Mabusut, volume 30, Beirut, Dar al-Marafa.
-Shahid Thani, Zain al-Din bin Ali, (1413), AH, al-Rawzah al-Bahiyyah, Fidshahr al-Lamaa al-Damshaqiyya, published by Muhammad Kalantar, Qom, Chatep Offset Qom.
-Shahid Thani, Zain al-Din Bin Ali, (Bite), Sharh al-Lamaa al-Damshaqiyya, Ashraf, Saad Mohammad Hassan Kalantar, Volume 8, Lebanon, Scientific Institute for the Press
Tabatabai, Seyyed Mohammad Hossein, (1418), AH, Al-Mizan, 3rd edition, 2nd volume, Qom, Al-Nashr al-Islami Institute.
-Thompson. (2014) Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice. Rowman & Littlefield. P.98.
-Tusi, Mohammad bin Hassan, (2008), al-Mabusut fi fiqh al-Umamiyah, published by Mohammad Baqer Behboodi, third edition, Tehran, al-Maktabeh al-Mortazawieh al-Ahiya al-Athar al-Jaafar.
-Word selection group, (2016), dictionary of words approved by Farhangistan, Volume 13, Tehran, Persian Language and Literature Academy.
-Zubeidi, Muhammad ibn Muhammad, (1414), AH, Taj al-Arus Man Jawahar al-Qamoos, Ali Shiri Publishing House, Beirut.
Journal of Studies in Islamic Law & Jurisprudence
Volume 17, Issue 38
March 2025
Pages 139-172

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics