Iraq on Saturday (Apr 27) passed a law that would criminalise same-sex relationships with a maximum 15-year prison sentence. This was the latest attack on the LGBTQ community in the country. A report by the news agency Reuters said that the law, passed by parliament, aims to protect the Iraqi society from moral depravity and the calls for homosexuality that have overtaken the world.
The Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality bans same-sex relations with at least 10 years and a maximum of 15 years in prison and mandates at least seven years in prison for anybody who promotes homosexuality or prostitution. The law also imposes one and three years in prison for anyone who changes their “biological gender” or wilfully dresses in an effeminate manner.
Law condemned by rights advocates
The law was condemned by rights advocates. Speaking to Reuters, Rasha Younes, deputy director of the LGBT rights programme at Human Rights Watch, said that the law rubber-stamped “Iraq’s appalling record of rights violations against LGBT people and is a serious blow to fundamental human rights.”
Until the law was passed on Saturday, Iraq didn’t explicitly criminalise gay sex. However, loosely defined morality clauses in its penal code have been used to target LGBT people, and members of the community have also been killed by armed groups and individuals.
Law initially included death penalty
The Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality initially included the death penalty for same-sex acts but was amended before being passed after strong opposition from the United States (US) and European countries.
The law was backed mainly by conservative Shi’ite Muslim parties. Shi’ite Muslim parties and other major parties in Iraq had stepped up their criticism of LGBTQ rights last year, with rainbow flags frequently being burned in protests.
(With inputs from agencies)
