Bisexuality in The Arab World

Bisexuality in the Arab world for both men and women is not unknown; estimates of prevalence vary, and depend on region. It is also a topic celebrated by some of the greatest artists of the Middle East, such as the famous poet Abu Nuwas who wrote extensively about the joys and beauty of pederasty or boy-love.

Bisexuality has a universal history. People in all known societies have exhibited varying degrees of bisexuality, and most of what is called homosexuality and lesbianism in previous cultures is in fact bisexuality, (The terms heterosexuality, bisexuality and particularly homosexuality, may not be appropriate in the historical context. In most traditional societies, human beings were classified on the basis of gender identity and not the modern concept of 'sexual orientation'. In these societies sexuality between men was considered part of the normal, 'straight' behaviour, while only males who accepted the passive role in sexual relations were considered as being of a 'different' gender or identity.) Contemporary Non-westernized concepts of male sexuality are based on more or less similar beliefs.

This is despite what has been interpreted as a prohibitions against homosexual behavior in the Qur'an and severe penalties for LGBT persons in some countries, as well as the fact that men practicing homosexuality may still face the death penalty in several Arab countries today (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, or Mauritania). The Qur'an however requires that the behavior be witnessed by four men or eight women in order to convict the participants.

It has often been hypothesized that this same-sex sexual behavior may be a consequence of the sexual conservatism in Arab culture which results in men and women being partially or completely segregated from each other, thus removing the opportunity for contact between the sexes prior to marriage.