Baghdad: Iraq’s parliament made a significant decision on Saturday, passing a law that criminalizes same-sex relationships, punishable by a maximum of 15 years in prison. This move, purportedly aimed at upholding religious values, has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates, who view it as the latest assault on the LGBT community in Iraq.
The essence of the law, as seen in a copy obtained by Reuters, is to “protect Iraqi society from moral depravity and the calls for homosexuality that have overtaken the world.”
The legislation garnered support primarily from conservative Shi’ite Muslim parties, constituting the largest coalition in Iraq’s predominantly Muslim parliament.
Dubbed the “Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality,” it not only outlaws same-sex relations with sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years but also mandates a minimum of seven years’ imprisonment for anyone found promoting homosexuality or prostitution. Additionally, individuals who alter their “biological gender” or present themselves in a manner deemed effeminate could face imprisonment ranging from one to three years.
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Initially, the bill included provisions for the death penalty for same-sex acts. However, it was revised before passage due to vehement opposition from the United States and European nations.
Prior to this legislation, Iraq did not explicitly criminalize gay sex. However, vaguely defined morality clauses in its penal code had been utilized to target LGBT individuals, who have also faced violence from armed groups and individuals.
Rasha Younes, deputy director of the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch, condemned the Iraqi parliament’s move, stating, “The Iraqi parliament’s passage of the anti-LGBT law rubber-stamps Iraq’s appalling record of rights violations against LGBT people and is a serious blow to fundamental human rights.”
Efforts to reach Iraqi officials responsible for overseeing human rights for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
Over the past year, major Iraqi political parties have escalated their opposition to LGBT rights, with instances of rainbow flags being burned during protests by both ruling and opposition conservative Shi’ite Muslim factions.
According to data from Our World in Data, more than 60 countries criminalize gay sex, while over 130 countries have legalized same-sex sexual acts.
