On Jan. 26, Lebanese judge Rabih Maalouf issued a court order stating that “homosexuality is a personal choice, and not a punishable offense.” Maalouf is the fourth judge since 2009 to go against Article 534 of the Lebanese penal code, which states sexual acts that “contradict the laws of nature” are punishable by up to a year in prison.

In 2013, the Lebanese Psychiatric Society stated that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and does not need to be treated. In 2015, the society updated the statement, calling for the abolition of Article 534.

“These are all small steps aiming to decriminalize homosexuality. This is not a victory,” Bertho Makso, a Lebanese activist from the nongovernmental organization Proud Lebanon, told Al-Monitor. “The real victory will be when Article 534 is changed or abolished. But now the priority is to educate people to avoid homosexuals' persecution and make change happen.”

Makso said, “This ruling is very important because the judge used a different law about personal freedom not affecting society, adding that the duty of the court is to protect human rights and people's dignity.” Maalouf referred to Article 183 of the penal code — which states, “An act undertaken in exercise of a right without abuse shall not be regarded as an offense” — and to the International Convention of Human Rights that Lebanon signed in 2006.