On Saturday, the Iraqi parliament approved a new law targeting same-sex relationships, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. The law is criticized by human rights defenders and the US State Department. Reuters and AFP inform about it.
The original proposal even included the death penalty. According to the parliament, the aim of the law is to protect religious values. Iraq is a conservative country where sexual minorities live underground.
Rights advocates have condemned the law as the latest attack on Iraq’s LGBT+ community. It is also criticized by the non-governmental organization Amnesty International, which, according to AFP, called it a “violation of basic human rights” and said that the changes adopted on Saturday “threaten Iraqis who are already being harassed on a daily basis.”
“This amendment threatens those who are most vulnerable in Iraqi society. It can be misused to limit freedom of speech and expression and to limit the activities of non-governmental organizations throughout Iraq,” the US State Department said in a statement. According to the authority, the law will weaken Iraq’s ability to diversify its economy and attract foreign investment.
Tags: Iraqi parliament rejects executions homosexuality approved draconian punishments
