Islamic Jurisprudence, Biomedical Ethics, and the Social Construct in Relation to Intersex People: A Scoping Review

Abstract

In Islamic jurisprudence, intersex people are known as khuntha—those who have both male and female multiplicative organs. Taking into account the fragmented evidence on the role of science in the treatment of the khuntha, the socioethical demands, and expectations of people depending on their gender, this study aims to better understand the existing literature on the khuntha people in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA)—the perception, acceptance, and treatment from families, communities, and health care providers. This study used a scoping review framework and was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA). The included studies are presented as a narrative account, which gradually achieves the aim of the study. Findings were synthesized thematically. Three themes emerged from the data: Islamic jurisprudence and khuntha people, biomedical ethics and khuntha people, and social construct. These themes highlight the fact that, despite advances in scientific and social interest in equal rights and opportunities for everyone, in the MENA region, people with sexual and gender diversity continue to be stigmatized within their families, society, and, most thought-provokingly, by health care providers. These findings highlight the need for health care providers to be knowledgeable and skilled communicators, in order to provide age-appropriate information and support, and ensure individual choice in gender identity for khuntha people.