Myanmar Penal Code

The Penal Code of Myanmar is the official criminal code of Myanmar. It was enacted on 1 May 1861 during British rule in Burma, is divided into 23 chapters, and is nearly identical to the Indian Penal Code because of their shared origins under British rule. Sections 505(a) and 505(b) are commonly used against journalists, activists and protesters, and after the 2021 coup d'état the military junta amended section 505(a) to criminalise fake news and incitement against the military. Section 377, which criminalises consensual same-sex sexual conduct, has drawn calls from LGBT rights groups for its abolition.