Iraq’s parliament recently approved a bill that imposes severe penalties, including jail terms ranging from 10 to 15 years, for same-sex relationships.
Additionally, transgender individuals could face imprisonment for one to three years under this new law, which also targets those who promote homosexuality or prostitution, perform gender reassignment surgeries, or engage in behaviors like “wife swapping.”
Advocates of the legislation argue that it reinforces religious values within the country.
However, human rights groups view it as another concerning development in Iraq’s history of violating the rights of LGBT individuals.
The initial draft of the bill proposed capital punishment for same-sex relationships but was revised after encountering opposition from the US and other Western nations.
Lawmaker Amir al-Maamouri described the law as a means of combatting what he termed “sexual deviancy” that conflicts with Islamic and societal norms.
The bill’s passage was delayed until after Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani’s US visit, according to lawmaker Raed al-Maliki, who played a role in amending the legislation.
Al-Maliki emphasized that this was an internal matter and rejected external interference.
Iraq has a history of targeting LGBT individuals through various morality laws, leading to cases of abduction, torture, rape, and murder, as documented by human rights organizations.
The US State Department condemned the law reforms, warning that they threaten human rights and economic prospects in Iraq.
Similarly, UK Secretary of State Lord David Cameron expressed concern, emphasizing that all people should be protected without discrimination based on their identity.
Source-BBC
