- checking login information
Loading...More Anti-LGBT Violence In Iraq — Six Men Found Dead
Earlier this week we brought you unconfirmed but very worrying reports that over 100 hundred Iraqis had been sentenced to death following charges of homosexuality, with the group IRAQI-LGBT claiming this was just the tip of a horrific and bloody iceberg, and that hundreds more cases of gay killings and anti-gay violence were the norm in Iraq since the regime change in 2003. Now, reports have emerged that six gay men have been murdered in Iraqi slums, and that clerics in the region are inciting this hatred at religious services.
The report also suggests that sermons damning homosexuality were read on the past two consecutive Friday prayer meetings in the region, with the Shiite cleric Sattar al-Battat and cleric Moqtada al-Sadr at the centre of these anti-gay pronouncements. “Such people have brought shame on Sadr city people… the blame falls on the security forces who do little to combat this phenomenon” said a spokesperson of Sattar al-Battat’s when discussing homosexuality with the press.
Closely affiliated with Moqtada al-Sadr are the Mehdi Army who were, at one stage, a force of “discipline” in the region, but now have largely had their hand in Sadr City made impotent as government forces took control of the area. It could be that this hunt for homosexuality is a direct response to the freezing of the Mehdi Army, and their attempting to expose homosexuality as evidence that, after their loss of control, “moral corruption” is becoming more widespread. The Army has denied it was involved in the killings, but firmly supports the clerics’ hard-line.
Being gay is illegal in Iraq, but since the regime change in 2003, it seems that LGBT Iraqis have suffered even more as many in the Middle East perceive homosexuality as a mainly Western trait that came along with the invasion of Iraq, and one that religious leaders in the area are zealous in warning against and pursuing the eradication of.
This is perhaps demonstrated most clearly by the words of one Sadr City official as they confirmed reports of the death of the two local men to the Reuters news agency, “Two young men were killed on Thursday. They were sexual deviants. Their tribes killed them to restore their family honor”. The two men’s bodies have not been claimed, perhaps because their family would feel ashamed to do so.
This is not an issue solely confined to Iraqi LGBTs anymore. Increasingly, men who adopt a Western style of dress and appearance, with shaved faces and short hair, are being labeled as homosexuals and in more affluent areas where coffee shops and other more Western style businesses have opened, many are branding those particular districts as gay hotspots.
It seems that, what were unconfirmed reports of killings in Iraq are slowly coming into view as a terrible reality. Take action now and sign this petition to urge the British and American administrations to do all they can to help lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Iraqi’s be free from oppression and the threat of these brutal murders.
Read more: human rights, iraq violence, iraqi lgbt, lgbt rights
Photo used under the Creative Commons Attribution License with thanks to James Dale.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
Recent Comments from Causes
I think it was a matter of racism, simple.
Poor dog...
Wondered the same thing. Thanks for clearing this up.
meet our writers
20 comments
+ add your ownNo small amount of irony that in the column to the right of this story is the link to this story: tennessee-schools-block-pro-gay-websites
The analogies between a third world nation with a history of misogyny, homophobia, ethnic hatreds, violence and militarism run by religious fundamentalists and Tennessee and most of its Bible Belt neighboring states are hardly lost on this reader.
David B. You are sorely mistaken about Islam not having been spread by violence. And NOBODY ever said the Mohammad was a god. But by the way muslims react, one could get the impression that he was.
I have read the Koralle in two deferent language in English and in Swedish more then one time i d not find that Islam has been spread by violence. and never mention that Muhammad is a god. people should not till rumor.
Homosexuality always has been, is, and always will be against the teachings of Islam (in the Q'ran and the Hadith and Syarie (sharia) law) No islamic country will ever pay the slightest attention to any outsiders (speak" INFIDELS) when it comes to enforcing and upholding their religious principles and the "sanctity" of their holy laws. So, why waste your breath. You will NEVER win.
It's sick to see adult human beings going around killing period. After reading this I couldn't help but to shake my head and ask "Why" Why do people disrespect other people living their own lives. Is it all pure madness? Is this hate they feel inside that strong that it makes them unhuman? I don't know the answers and I wish I did. But I know something has to be done about it...
It's sick to see adult human beings going around killing period. After reading this I couldn't help but to shake my head and ask "Why" Why do people disrespect other people living their own lives. Is it all pure madness? Is this hate they feel inside that strong that it makes them unhuman? I don't know the answers and I wish I did. But I know something has to be done about it...
It appears to me that these extreme religious men are insecure with their manhood, and always have been. Look back throughout history (his-story) for example, when they used to torture women who were midwives or nature healers who refused to join their patriarchal church. They vilified women then forced women to 'marry' within their church so the men could be sure the children were theirs (to own). They vilified paganism and female related beliefs as 'satanism' - 'Satan' being a fabrication of the church. They fear 'masculine', strong or outspoken women. They ban freedom of choice in an effort to control women's bodies. They see the natural menstruation process as 'dirty'. Many see women as dirty. They suffer from homophobia. It all points to one thing, they are very insecure with their own masculinity and are suffering major control issues.
What they are doing is genocide. How dare people take it upon themselves to kill those who are not the same as themselves. Men who commit such crimes are perpetuating a sick and violent society.
To add onto what I shared below: BOTH hate and love are ACTIONS, always. And what this means is that "tolerance" - whether under Religulous/religious guise or from other hypocritical standpoint/s - "tolerance" is never a 'neutral' or 'civil'/restrained act of kindness, but in reality is always a veiled act of HATE - hidden hate for others, hate for things HIDDEN WITHIN ONESELF. (Ergo all the male religious leaders in glittery, campy "robes" - DRESSES - claiming to have spiritual "tolerance" for LGBTs but simultaneously ranting and exorting about the "evils" of LGBT love!)
TRUE SOLIDARITY IS NEVER ABOUT "TOLERANCE" - TRUE SOLIDARITY IS ALWAYS AN ACT OF LOVE! AND WE LGBTS KNOW THAT LOVE MUST BE FOUGHT FOR, EVERY SINGLE DAY AND NIGHT.
In the name of God women are forced against their will to bear horribly deformed children. In the name of God during the Spanish Inquisition so called heretics were tortured often until death. In the name of God gay people are condemned to death. The Bible and Koran, so called "Books of God" should be more aptly titled "Hater's Digests". They should not be banned but minors should definitely be warned of their hateful content.
login to add your comment
use your care2 login
add your comment