Life

Iraq’s government drafts plan to criminalise homosexuality

Jordan Robledo

Photo: Flickr

In a massive blow to LGBTQ+ rights, the Iraq government has taken steps to criminalise homosexuality.

According to reports, the country’s Parliamentary Legal Committee met on 8 July to create proposals targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

In an interview with the Iraqi News Agency, State of Law coalition MP Aref al-Hamami confirmed the horrifying news.

“It was agreed within the parliament to collect signatures after returning to session to legislate a law prohibiting homosexuality in Iraq,” he said, as reported by Middle East Eye.

“[The] legislation of such a law will be reinforced by legal provisions that prevent homosexuality and the perversions associated with it.”

In a statement to GAY TIMES, Amir Ashour, head of the LGBTQ+ group IraQueer, opened up about the serious implications of the proposed law.

“The Iraqi government is using their hatred for LGBT+ people to distract the public from their failure to form a government, provide basic services, and hold perpetrators accountable for different human rights violations,” he said.

“The international community must put pressure on Iraq immediately. The lives of LGBT+ people and the future of the queer movement is on the line.”

While homosexuality is currently legal in the country, LGBTQ+ citizens have faced abuse over the years – including torture, kidnapping, physical assaults and even death – from families and conservative groups.

Alongside community backlash, law enforcement have also used vague policies within the country’s penal code system to target LGBTQ+ people.

According to a report from Human Rights Watch, 11 LGBTQ+ individuals were arrested in June 2021 under article 401 of the penal code – which criminalises “public indecency”.

The organisation also revealed that their cases have remained open as of March 2022.

See below for more information regarding the government’s aforementioned ban on homosexuality.

“The international community must put pressure on Iraq immediately. The lives of LGBT+ people and the future of the queer movement is on the line.”

While homosexuality is currently legal in the country, LGBTQ+ citizens have faced abuse over the years – including torture, kidnapping, physical assaults and even death – from families and conservative groups.

Alongside community backlash, law enforcement have also used vague policies within the country’s penal code system to target LGBTQ+ people.

According to a report from Human Rights Watch, 11 LGBTQ+ individuals were arrested in June 2021 under article 401 of the penal code – which criminalises “public indecency”.

The organisation also revealed that their cases have remained open as of March 2022.

See below for more information regarding the government’s aforementioned ban on homosexuality.

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