National
In February 2009, Iraqi LGBT said that more than 430 gay men have been murdered in Iraq since 2003 [R1.1].
In January 2008, the Iraqi government announced an amnesty for prisoners, except terrorists and homosexuals. Gays and lesbians may be safer in jail - they are routinely abducted by the Bagdad militias and never seen again [R1.2].
In June 2006, Iraqi police reportedly executed a 14 year old boy in Bagdad after the boy was accused of corrupting the community and creating a scandal because he had sex with men [R1.3].
In May 2006, pressure from European gay rights organizations resulted in Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani removing a fatwa from his Web site that called for the killing of homosexuals in the "worst, most severe way possible". The fatwa was removed from Sistani's website only. It has not been revoked and the hateful denunciation calling for the punishment of lesbians remains [R1.4].
In 2004, the Coalition Provisional Authority modified sentences for rape and sexual assault in Penal Code Paragraph 393 providing for a maximum punishment of life imprisonment. The penalty for the offense of indecent assault set forth in Penal Code Paragraph 396 was modified to provide a maximum punishment of fifteen years imprisonment [R1.5].
In 2003, Iraq reinstated the Penal Code of 1969 after the American invasion. The Penal Code does not prohibit sexual activities between consenting adults of the same sex. However, as the country was under war, and law enforcement was not functioning properly, death squads operate in the country, killing homosexuals [R1.6].
In 2001, the Revolutionary Command Council, issued a decree to provide the death penalty for the offences of prostitution, homosexuality, incest and rape [R1.7]. |
