The Iraqi Parliament has passed a bill providing for criminal liability for same-sex relations with a prison term of 10 to 15 years, reports the BBC. According to the new law, transgender individuals can also face imprisonment for a period of one to three years.
Supporters of the changes say they will help protect religious values in the country. Human rights activists argue that this is another “black mark” on the record of violations of the rights of LGBT individuals in Iraq.
Those who promote homosexuality or prostitution, doctors performing gender reassignment surgeries, men who “intentionally” behave like women, and those involved in “wife-swapping” will also face imprisonment under the new legislation.
The BBC adds that the previous version of the bill – an amendment to the law combating prostitution, which was adopted in the late 1980s – proposed the death penalty for same-sex relations. However, it was changed after facing opposition from the US and other Western countries.
The publication reminds that in recent years, the main Iraqi political parties have intensified criticism of LGBT rights, and rainbow flags were burned during protests. At the same time, the US State Department stated that Iraq’s adoption of such decisions poses a threat to human rights and freedoms.
