The United Nations said Monday it was “alarmed” by a new law in Iraq criminalising same-sex relations, and called for them to be shelved.
Homosexuality is taboo in Iraq’s conservative society. However, there had not previously been a law that explicitly punished same-sex acts.
“We are alarmed by the passing of a new law by Iraq’s parliament that criminalises consensual same-sex relations as well as other forms of private consensual behaviour with jail terms of up to 15 years,” UN human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.
“The law runs contrary to several human rights treaties and conventions ratified by Iraq, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and should be shelved.”
Transgender people will be sentenced to three years’ jail under the amendments to a 1988 anti-prostitution law.
The amendments also set a minimum seven-year prison term for…
Source: Guardian Newspaper
