{"id":5460,"date":"2024-04-29T17:35:33","date_gmt":"2024-04-29T17:35:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=5460"},"modified":"2024-04-29T17:35:33","modified_gmt":"2024-04-29T17:35:33","slug":"united-nations-alarmed-by-iraqs-new-anti-lgbtq-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=5460","title":{"rendered":"United Nations ‘alarmed’ by Iraq’s new anti-LGBTQ+ law"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The United Nations said Monday that it was \u201calarmed\u201d by a new anti-LGBTQ+ law passed by Iraq\u2019s parliament. <\/p>\n

Baghdad quietly passed the law Saturday criminalizing same-sex relations with harsh prison sentences up to 15 years. <\/p>\n

Ravina Shamdasani, U.N. human rights office spokesperson, said in a statement that the law \u201cshould be shelved.\u201d <\/p>\n

The law criminalizes transgender people under an amendment to a 1988 anti-prostitution law. The amendment prohibits “biological sex change based on personal desire and inclination,” punishing transgender people and doctors who perform gender-affirming care with three years in prison. <\/p>\n

Iraq\u2019s parliament set a seven-year minimum prison sentence for those who \u201cpromote\u201d homosexuality and a maximum three-year sentence for men who \u201cintentionally\u201d act like women. <\/p>\n

Shamdasani said the law violates several human rights treaties signed by Iraq, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provides all people equal protection from discrimination. <\/p>\n

The law perpetuates \u201cdiscrimination and denial of access to basic services, including in health care,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

The legislation marks Iraq\u2019s first law that explicitly punishes same-sex relations. But LGBTQ+ Iraqis have always been forced into the shadows.<\/p>\n

Gay and transgender Iraqis are frequent targets of “kidnappings, rapes, torture and murders,” according to a 2022 report by Human Rights Watch and IraQueer. <\/p>\n

Shamdasani said the new bill will \u201clegitimize prejudice\u201d and \u201cexpose people to hate crimes, police abuse, harassment, intimidation, blackmail and torture.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n