Homosexuality is banned in Iraq

Published 29 April 2024 at 15.51

Foreign. Iraq's parliament has voted through a new law that introduces up to fifteen years in prison for homosexual relations.

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Previously, homosexual relations were not prohibited in Iraq, albeit heavily stigmatized. Now, however, the parliament has passed a law that directly criminalizes homosexuality.

According to Reuters, anyone who breaks the law will be able to be sentenced to prison for between ten and fifteen years.

To further discourage homosexuality and prostitution impose penalties of at least seven years in prison for those who promote such acts. In addition, the law threatens those who change their biological sex or “deliberately dress feminine” with imprisonment of one to three years.

The purpose of the law is stated to be “upholding religious values ​​and protecting Iraqi society from the calls to homosexuality that has taken over the world”.

Earlier versions of the bill included the death penalty for gay sex, but this was changed after strong opposition from the US and the EU before the law was passed.