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The Penal Code of Myanmar is the official criminal code of Myanmar. The code was enacted on 1 May 1861 during British rule in Burma and is divided into 23 chapters.[1][2] The Penal Code of Myanmar is nearly identical to the Indian Penal Code, due to their shared origins under British rule.[3]
| Penal Code of Myanmar ရာဇသတ်ကြီး | |
|---|---|
| Original title | India Act XLV, 1860 |
| Date effective | 1 May 1861 |
Sections 505(a) and 505(b) of the Penal Code are commonly used against journalists, activists, and protestors.[4][5] As of 30 April 2020, 8 of the 50 convicted political prisoners were serving sentences for violating one or both of said sections.[5] In the aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, the military junta amended section 505(a) to criminalise "fake news" and "incitement" against the military.[4] Lawyers who represent activists and politicians have also been charged under section 505(a).[6]
Section 377 criminalises consensual same-sex sexual conduct, and LGBT rights groups have called for the section to be abolished,[7][8][9]
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