17c起草社区

Human rights and 17c起草社区IA+ advocacy groups have condemned new laws passed in Iraq over the weekend, which have introduced immediate bans on same-sex activity, being transgender and sex work.聽

Passed in Iraqi Parliament on Saturday April 27th, the ‘Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality’ is an amendment to earlier anti-sex work laws passed in 1988.

The law was adopted with support from 170 out of 329 members of Parliament affirming the law, the main bloc of voters coming from highly conservative Shia Muslim parties.聽

Seeking to 鈥減rotect Iraqi society from moral depravity and the calls for homosexuality that have overtaken the world,鈥� the law gives homosexuality a jail penalty of 10-15 years, while gender transition and 鈥榚ffeminate dressing鈥� receives 1 to 3 years.

Additionally, 17c起草社区IA+ allyship is banned under the law, with anyone who so much as 鈥榩romotes鈥� homosexuality looking at 7 years in prison.聽

The law is the culmination of , after the government ordered its media platforms to avoid the words 鈥榟omosexuality鈥� and 鈥榞ender鈥� last year.聽

Iraq did not previously have any laws specifically punishing gay and trans people, instead .听听

Reaction from 17c起草社区I+ and humans rights groups

The passing of the law was internationally condemned by human rights advocates, 17c起草社区IA+ groups and world governments, who labelled the law as 鈥渦nacceptable.鈥�

IraQueer, an Iraq-based gay rights movement, :

鈥淎s they have done before, they will blindly hurt the lives of many individuals in the name of fear and misinformation. It鈥檚 not only the LGBT community at risk, Iraqi freedom is at risk!鈥�

鈥� IraQueer 毓乇丕賯 賰賵賷乇 (@IraQueer)

Human Rights Watch鈥檚 Iraq researcher Sarah Sanbar , commenting on the effect it would have on Iraqi society.

鈥淚nstead of passing laws that would protect and help Iraqis,鈥� she said, 鈥減arliament is doing the exact opposite. Horrific and unacceptable.”

The in a statement released on the day the laws passed. Similar to Sanbar鈥檚 post, the statement spoke to the potential adverse effects on all of Iraq – not just the 17c起草社区IA+ population.

鈥淭his amendment threatens those most at risk in Iraqi society. It can be used to hamper free-speech and expression and inhibit the operations of NGOs across Iraq,鈥� the statement read.聽

鈥淭he legislation also weakens Iraq鈥檚 ability to diversify its economy and attract foreign investment. International business coalitions have already indicated that such discrimination in Iraq will harm business and economic growth in the country.

鈥淩espect for human rights and political and economic inclusion is essential for Iraq鈥檚 security, stability, and prosperity. This legislation is inconsistent with these values and undermines the government鈥檚 political and economic reform efforts.鈥�