Iraq’s parliament recently enacted a law criminalising same-sex relationships on Saturday, imposing a maximum 15-year prison sentence, purportedly to uphold religious values. However, this move has sparked condemnation from rights advocates who see it as yet another assault on the LGBT community in Iraq.
The legislation, titled the Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality, is aimed at shielding Iraqi society from what it deems as moral degradation and the global spread of homosexuality. It garnered support primarily from conservative Shi’ite Muslim factions, the dominant force in Iraq’s parliament.
Under this law, engaging in same-sex relations carries a penalty of at least 10 years in prison, extending up to 15 years. Moreover, advocating for homosexuality or prostitution is punishable by a minimum of seven years behind bars. Additionally, individuals who alter their “biological gender” or dress in a manner considered effeminate face imprisonment ranging from one to three years.
Initially, the bill proposed the death penalty for same-sex acts, but it was revised before passage due to strong opposition from the United States and European nations.
Until this recent legislation, Iraq did not explicitly outlaw gay sex, though vague morality clauses in its penal code had been used to target LGBT individuals. Furthermore, members of the community have faced violence from armed groups and individuals.
Human Rights Watch’s Rasha Younes criticised, “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.”
This move reflects a broader trend of increased scrutiny of LGBT rights by major Iraqi political parties, with conservative factions frequently denouncing such rights in public demonstrations, indicating a challenging environment for LGBT individuals in Iraq.
