Iraqi parliament passes anti-gay law, including punishments for transgender people

NOS News•today, 01:26

The Iraqi parliament has passed an anti-gay law. The law allows a person in a same-sex relationship to be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

The law was mainly supported by the conservative Shiite political parties, which form the largest coalition in the predominantly Muslim parliament. Parliament also announced penalties for transgender people. For this purpose, an amendment to an anti-prostitution law from 1988 was approved.

“Biological sex change based on personal desires” will now be punishable. Transgender people and doctors who perform gender reassignment surgery risk prison sentences of three years. Men who “consciously dress femininely” are now also punishable.

Until the law’s passage, there were no laws in Iraq that explicitly targeted homosexuality, but it was already a taboo in conservative Iraqi society. In the past, however, several LGBTI people were convicted of, for example, sodomy. Several LGBTI people have also been killed in the past by individuals and armed groups.

An earlier bill stated that same-sex relationships could lead to the death penalty. However, this was adjusted after pressure from Europe and the United States, among others.

The US State Department said it was “gravely concerned” about the approval of the new law. “Limiting the rights of certain individuals in a society undermines the rights of everyone.” The US also warns that these types of laws threaten the country economically. “International business coalitions have already indicated that such discrimination in Iraq will harm business and economic growth in the country.”

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reacted with outrage. “Criminalizing homosexuality goes directly against the international agreements that Iraq has agreed to.”