Iraqi Parliament Passes Anti-Gay Law: Up to 15 Years in Prison for Same-Sex Relationships

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

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

“Biological sex change based on personal desire” will now be punished. Transgender people and doctors who perform sex reassignment surgery risk a three-year prison sentence. Men who “consciously dress as women” are now also punished.

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

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

The US State Department says “great concern“about the adoption of the new law. “Limiting the rights of some individuals in society undermines the rights of all.” The US also warns that these types of laws threaten the country economically. in Iraq it will harm business and economic growth in the country.”

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