7 months ago
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In a move met with global condemnation, the Iraqi parliament quietly passed a law over the weekend that imposes severe penalties on gay and transgender poeple, sparking outrage from human rights groups and diplomatic circles.
The law, which was slipped through as an amendment to existing anti-prostitution legislation, has drawn fierce criticism from various quarters.
US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller denounced the law, saying that it "threatens those most at risk in Iraqi society" and could impede freedom of speech and expression. He also cautioned that such legislation could deter foreign investment, citing concerns from international business coalitions.
British foreign secretary David Cameron echoed these sentiments, labeling the law as "dangerous and worrying."
While homosexuality remains a taboo subject in Iraqi society, and periodic anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns have been launched by political leaders, the country had not previously implemented a law explicitly criminalizing such behavior.
The newly passed legislation imposes harsh penalties, including sentences of 10 to 15 years for same-sex relations and one to three years for individuals undergoing or performing gender transition surgeries, as well as for the "intentional practice of effeminacy."
Additionally, the law prohibits any organization promoting "sexual deviancy," with violators facing a minimum seven-year prison term and hefty fines.
Notably, an earlier draft of the law had included provisions for the death penalty for same-sex relations, though this was ultimately not included in the final version.
Iraqi officials have defended the law as a means of upholding societal values. Acting parliamentary speaker Mohsen Al-Mandalawi described the legislation as "a necessary step to protect the value structure of society" and to shield children from what he referred to as "moral depravity and homosexuality."
However, human rights advocates have vehemently condemned the law, with Rasha Younes from Human Rights Watch asserting that its passage only serves to reinforce Iraq's dismal track record of rights violations against LGBTQ+ individuals. She characterized the law as a significant blow to fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, association, privacy, equality, and nondiscrimination.
A 2022 report by Human Rights Watch had previously accused armed groups in Iraq of committing egregious acts of violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, including abduction, rape, torture, and murder, often with impunity. The report also criticized the Iraqi government for failing to hold perpetrators accountable for these crimes.
(With inputs from agencies)
