#Iraq's Antigay Laws

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Daniel Villarreal at LGBTQ Nation:

The Iraqi Parliament has passed a law punishing homosexuals with 10 to 15 years in prison; transgender, gender-nonconforming people with one to three years in prison; and anyone who “promotes” homosexuality with seven years. The law has been criticized by the U.S. State Department and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. Parliament passed the “Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality,” an amendation of a 1988 anti-sex work law, on April 27, with 170 out of 329 members of Parliament supporting the law. Most supporters were from highly conservative Shia Muslim parties, The Star Observer reported. An earlier version punished homosexuality with the death penalty, but that provision was removed after strong opposition from the U.S. and European nations.

In addition to criminalizing same-sex acts and “promoting” homosexuality, the new provisions criminalize individuals who undergo gender-affirming healthcare as well as medical professionals who provide such care. It also criminalizes “wife swapping” and those who dress in a way deemed to be “imitating women.” [...] Previously, Iraq had no laws criminalizing homosexuality. However, authorities there regularly entrap, arrest, and detain LGBTQ+ individuals on vague, trumped-up “morality,” “debauchery,” “prostitution,” and “cybercrime” charges. In jail, they’re interrogated; denied access to lawyers, visitors, or medical care; physically and sexually abused; and forced to sign confessions, often being extorted and blackmailed afterward, Human Rights Watch reported.

Iraq's parliament passes heavy-handed anti-LGBTQ+ extremist law that would imprison gay men with 15 years jail, trans, nonbinary and gender nonconforming people with 1-3 years, and any promoter of LGBTQ+ rights with 7 years. It also criminalizes who have undergone gender-confirmation surgery.

Previously, Iraq technically had no laws criminalizing LGBTQ+ expression; however, authorities there regularly entrap, arrest, and detain LGBTQ+ individuals on vague, trumped-up “morality,” “debauchery,” “prostitution,” and “cybercrime” charges.

See Also:

PinkNews: Iraq’s criminalisation of same-sex relationships and LGBTQ+ people an ‘attack on human rights’

#World News #Iraq #LGBTQ+ #Anti LGBTQ+ Extremism #Middle East #Arab World #Iraq's Antigay Laws #Anti Trans Extremism #Human Rights #Criminalization of Trans Health #Gender Confirmation Surgery