Is the Iraqi Government Executing LGBT People?
Published March 30, 2009 @ 07:24PM PT
It's no secret that LGBT life in Iraq these days is as dangerous as it gets - quite possibly the most dangerous in the world. Secret underground networks have emerged to help escort LGBT Iraqis out of the country. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein (no friend to LGBT rights himself), the safety situation for LGBT Iraqi citizens has become even more dire. And there's concern this week that the Iraqi government is going to start executing LGBT people.
The UK-based group Iraqi-LGBT is reporting that approximately 128 individuals have been arrested and sentenced to death for nothing more than being LGBT. And according to Iraqi-LGBT, executions are scheduled this week to start in "batches of 20."
If true, this is shocking, and quite possibly one of the gravest consequences of the Bush administration's War in Iraq. Groups like Amnesty International have called for investigations into executions in Iraq based on sexual orientation discrimination, but sadly little has been done to address LGBT discrimination in Iraq.
If LGBT people are being systematically murdered in Iraq, it's something the Obama administration and the U.S. Congress need to address. The U.S. government shouldn't be in the business of propping up administrations around the globe that execute people because of their sexual orientation. We've created an action here where you can write your members of Congress, express concern about the reports coming out of Iraq that people are being executed simply because they are LGBT, and ask them to investigate these atrocious killings.
Less than a few weeks ago, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a promise that the persecution of gays and lesbians around the globe wouldn't be ignored by the Obama administration. Here's her words: "Human rights is and always will be one of the pillars of our foreign policy. And in particular, the persecution and discrimination against gays and lesbians is something that we take very seriously. It is terribly unfortunate that right now in unfortunately many places in the world violence against gays and lesbians, certainly discrimination and prejudice are not just occurring but condoned and protected. And we would hope that over the next few years we could have some influence in trying to change those attitudes..."
Given how much money and military power we're pumping into Iraq, there may be no country where the U.S. has greater influence right now. These alleged executions need to be investigated, and they need to be investigated now.
One other thing about Iraq. Since the U.S. invasion, the death penalty in Iraq has soared to levels that not even Texas approaches. According to Amnesty: "The use of the death penalty has increased rapidly in Iraq since it was reinstated in mid-2004. Since then more than 270 people have been sentenced to death and at least 100 people have reportedly been executed.... [S]ince [2005], there has been a rapid rise in executions with at least 65 people, including at least two women, reportedly executed by hanging in 2006. Iraq now figures among the countries with the highest numbers of executions reported in 2006. Higher totals were recorded only in China, Iran and Pakistan."
Those death penalty numbers should raise some serious concerns for both the Obama administration and the U.S. Congress when it comes to the human rights situation and the criminal justice system in Iraq.
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Comments (58)
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.
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The US Government has to protest this systematic annihilation of humans. There is no justification to put a person to death simply for his or her genetic code. Our President has to demand Iraq's halt to these killings and to respect international human rights. Our country has to be the voice of protest if violations like this are to be stopped. I we are true leaders we have to prove it.
Posted by robert branson on 03/31/2009 @ 07:35AM PT
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To Kelly Hansen,
Fortunately you live in America where even hate speech is protected by our constitution. It is however, still unacceptable to most of us. Just remember that you are in the minority here
Posted by jim brooks on 04/03/2009 @ 09:28AM PT
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Kelly Hansen,
Clearly you care about gays. That fact that you actually believe that it is the right thing to kill them suggests that you consider it important to kill them, which disturbs me.
I do not care about gays. I care about humans.
Nobody in the world should give a damn about whether you're gay, bi, or straight, nor should we care whether you're black or white or any other colour, nor should gender mean a damned thing.
I have friends who are gay, but they're not gay friends, they're human friends, their being gay is of no importance, their kindness, their decency, and their intelligence is what matters.
People are people and that is all there should be to it.
Even you deserve to live, and I'll be honest, when I read your comment I wanted to find you and wring your neck, so if people like you have the right to live, who can drive pacifists and humanists like myself to such violent thoughts in an instant, why should others not?
Posted by Dan Smith on 04/03/2009 @ 10:24AM PT
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The USA already had a chance to stand up. Last December, the UN has a resolution calling for worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality.
The USA was the only western nation to refuse to sign.
Obama recently changed that, though, and signed it on the US' behalf... after he determined that it committed the US to no legal obligations. Wouldn't want to have to actually DO something about sexual equality, it seems.
Posted by Dustin Rodriguez on 04/04/2009 @ 01:39AM PT
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Dustin: Choosing Barack Obama as a model is a disturbing choice, but available. My values do not lend themselves the option to say OBAMA. The UN is a private entity that represents NO obligation on my part. If you check closely you will see that the UN Security Council makes its members the elite among equals. One would think that the homo sapiens could do better than create a subservient class such as the members of the general assembly. You could read the fine print, which Obama had not done. By the way, how do you like your Indonesian Muslim President? I always speak truth to power.
Posted by charles mcgee on 04/04/2009 @ 07:18AM PT
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At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, reports like these make it quite evident that Iraq at least as far as the governing body is concerned operates far differently and with much less freedom of expression and freedom of identity than here in the United States or anywhere else in the Western World. Yes, it's true we still practice tacit forms of homophobia in the western world and no one would argue that the US is where it needs to be in regards to legislation and the protection of all human rights but that said, the governmental sanctioned persecution, incarceration, and execution of homosexuals is not included in actions we do tolerate and in this case politically incorrect or not we need to take a stand and demand that Iraq stop these heinous crimes against humanity and behave that the rest of the civilized world if they want to continue to get financial backing from us and the rest of the Western World. If they fail to meet these criteria than they should be viewed as a truly hostile nation which fails to see the value of all humans regardless of race, sex, gender, orientation and religion. It is time the United States uses it's economic and diplomatic influence over Iraq, investigate these allocations and if found guilty, we impose strong trade embargoes and diplomatic sanctions much like those similar to the ones imposed on Libiya and other countries that fail to adhere to a basic level of human rights. In this case clearly Silence=Death!
Posted by Todd Ayer on 04/06/2009 @ 10:14AM PT
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TODD: Deciding who are the bad boys and girls is a very difficult task. What standard would one use? The notion of 'rightness' and 'wrongness,' something I would call morality, leaves me with the belief that the solicitor will eventually kill to keep safe their view. Who has the capacity to kill without question?
Posted by charles mcgee on 04/06/2009 @ 01:04PM PT
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We, through our tax dollars, are supporting the Iraqi government. The State Department must make it absolutely clear that the United States will not tolerate the criminal actions of the Iraqi government. The US must offer financial aid to those Iraqi citizens who wish to leave, and help with their relocation. We broke it, we own it.
Posted by Kurt Gerhardt on 03/31/2009 @ 08:39AM PT
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Could you please say what LGBT stands for? You use the acronym and did not follow Writing 101 where you need to define it first like L...G....B...T...(LGBT).
I still have no clue what it stands for.
First line was "It's no secret that LGBT life in Iraq these days is as dangerous as it gets".
Well that doesnt help!
Posted by elizabeth chubbuck on 03/31/2009 @ 08:43AM PT
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Elizabeth,
Is this article not filed under the heading "Gay Rights"? Could you not extrapolate from that? Besides which LGBT is a well-known and widely used acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered.
Posted by Rashida McWilliams on 03/31/2009 @ 08:58AM PT
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With Elizabeth's comment, we have the confirmation that though LGBT is a "widely used acronym", it is NOT universally known.
Please name the real thing. Acronyms are not what they try to signify, they are acronyms and tend to distanciate from what they actually mean.
Be accurate. Write for people that want to understand what you mean if you want them to sympathize with your ideas.
Writing 101 as stated by Elizabeth should universally be used if one wants to communicate with everyone and anyone.
Posted by André Tanguay on 03/31/2009 @ 02:22PM PT
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Hmmm.
This might helphttp://lmgtfy.com/?q=lgbt
Posted by Viva Viviana on 03/31/2009 @ 07:18PM PT
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Lgbt is an attempt to be inclusive. It's already been defined for ya......So, anyone else reading this- PLEASE stop saying 'lesbian and gay'. Lesbians are gay- this use is narrowing the definition of 'gay' till we use this alphabet soup and only men are 'gay'.Language is our tool- use it carefully.
Thanks for asking though.
Posted by ophelia omai on 04/04/2009 @ 09:53AM PT
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LGBT stands for Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgendered.
Posted by Mark Waters on 03/31/2009 @ 08:54AM PT
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It's unfortunate that having a LGBT lifestyle in Iraq can mean death by the Iraqi government. In addition, it's prudent that President Obama gives mandates to the government of Iraq to stop targeting LGBT people. It's also agreeable that the United States can't be supporting governments that prosecute LGBT people based on their sexual orientation because that would be wrong. Finally, with high use of the death penalty in Iraq, it's also time to send another mandate so that their government doesn't abuse human rights.
Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 03/31/2009 @ 02:05PM PT
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Stop confusing pedophilia with homosexuality. Adults molest children way too often and it is no worse when it is homosexual instead of heterosexual. By being homophobic, you enable the pedophiles. I guarantee you will find pedophilia wherever you find homophobia. It is how the pedophiles justify themselves.
Posted by Laurita Moore on 04/04/2009 @ 08:12PM PT
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I agree with Laurita Moore. A pedophile is not a gay person, it is a totally different thing. Edward Smail needs to get the facts before making such ignorant comments. We should get out of Iraq and let them know that we will not help or support such injustice toward anyone.
Posted by Judy Tufts on 04/07/2009 @ 01:00PM PT
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edwin smail seems to be confusing homosexuals with catholic priests who are a bigger threat to raping/molesting children than homosexuals are. do some research. perhaps the us government should ban the catholic church.
if people are having public sex (such as the former republican senator from idaho), they should be arrested and prosecuted. but death seems a bit severe for a person's acts which are presumably performed in the privacy of his/her own home such as those in iraq.
Posted by Benjamin Crow on 04/08/2009 @ 10:17AM PT
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If the Iraq government hopes to become part of the family of nations, it must respect the rights of all segements of its population, including all homosexual persons (who do not choose their sexual orientation). To merit international respect, the government must behave justly and refrain from persecuting LGBT persons.
The world is watching Iraq as it develops into a true democracy that respects human rights.
Posted by Stephen Harris on 03/31/2009 @ 06:01PM PT
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Indeed beyond the translesbigay communities, the judicial system in Iraq (and many other countries) need more investigations, particularly when the mainstream news is focussed on other important problems such as the economy and violent conflict.
Posted by michael Beer on 04/03/2009 @ 07:06AM PT
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The first slave ship arrived in America around 1619 and the struggle for liberty and sovereignty began in earnest that moment for that social group. That is nearly four hundred years that the issue has been a social problem. When we get that issue resolved we will begin to working on the LGTB issue. At this departure their cause is NOT a priority. The LGTBs need to get in line, and not cut the line. Others were there first.
Posted by charles mcgee on 04/03/2009 @ 04:58PM PT
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You might me surprised that most LGTB persons don't share your point-of-view.
Maybe it's time for a more collaberative effort?
Posted by Paul Brady on 04/03/2009 @ 06:56PM PT
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Um, okaaayyyy... So that means that any movement towards racial equality should be delayed until women have full equality...? Or what? Your logic is hard to follow.
Posted by Stephen Tschudi on 04/03/2009 @ 07:13PM PT
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Charles, not much of a multitasker? There is no heirarchy when it comes to addressing various groups and their equality, everyone is important and all interests can be fought for at the same time. Deciding that one group should recieve preferential treatment FIRST is, in and of itself, the same mentality that discriminates to begin with. If you want to compare, LGBT cannot marry for how many years in America? And every six hours a gay hate crime occurs. These issues deserve to be put on hold? We are a nation of millions of people who address millions of causes every single day. Join the family.
Posted by Beth Woodson on 04/04/2009 @ 02:26AM PT
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The last time any human beings "got in line" was during the depression! For you to make that ridiculous comment is incredible! We must do all we can, in ALL areas of civil rights, because civil rights are human rights, don't you get it?
Posted by gilbert barrett on 04/04/2009 @ 05:36AM PT
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If we go by your method, African Americans are the ones who need to get in line and not cut in. Discrimination against homosexuals (not to mention women) has existed from the beginning of time-- several millennia before there was slavery in America. The idea that we can only work on one human rights concern at a time is silly.
Posted by George Dauphin on 04/04/2009 @ 06:06AM PT
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There is no need to imply line cutting. It's all human rights..........
In the U.S. You might find yourself dragged behind a truck for fun instead of officially executed...Oh, you're not worried about that because you're straight?
Posted by ophelia omai on 04/04/2009 @ 10:06AM PT
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I understand your frustration with the pace of racial equality efforts, but has it ever occurred to you that the people who oppress the LGBT community are also the ones who oppress racial minorities, not to mention women and the working class? Wealthy heterosexual white males are not a majority in this country but we have made them the most powerful group in the nation by fighting amongst ourselves when we should be uniting to bring equality to all human beings regardless of class, race, gender, or sexual orientation. Fight The Man, not each other.
Posted by Amanda Woods on 04/04/2009 @ 01:53PM PT
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Two comments:T in LGBT stands for transgender, not transgendered.Why should any group have to wait until another group has full equality? Getting in line makes no sense where civil rights are concerned, as if only so many rights can be available at once.
Posted by Frey Leigh on 04/03/2009 @ 08:47PM PT
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If there is limited rights for Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender in the USA and there is, people are still killing people just for being differenant. In Iraq its Muslem state and if you want to read a horror read the Qur'an and shiria law then you will understand. Islam is the problem its hardly a clone of Christianity it a faith of hate just read the book. Take a look at http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/WWMD.htm its shocking and its all in the Qua'an.
Posted by Basil Fitze on 04/04/2009 @ 04:34AM PT
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To Basil,
First off, it is truly insulting for you to claim Islam is purely a religion of hate. To turn around and start bashing on another group to defend your cause is hardly righteous at all. I myself am a Muslim, and I was also the president of my school's Gay Straight Alliance. I have been Muslim my entire life, and I am sick and tired of the ignorance about my faith. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam truly are all sibling religions. You claim that we preach hate in our holy book; well, the Bible isn't exactly all clean either. The point is, no religious text should be taken word for word as is. If you were to pick apart the Bible, you would come across similar startling passages. These books are thousands of years old. The overall message is the same-- do good to others, love God, be moral-- but some of the stories from the past are outdated. I hope that you may one day educate yourself on the true message of Islam, and not by way of a bigoted website. No true Muslim supports the slaughtering of people, period.
So, as now is appropriate to say, Salam-alaikum. Peace be with you.
Posted by L C on 04/04/2009 @ 07:36AM PT
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You may be surprised that hate is also attributed to many fundamentalist Christians, and rightly so. The Bible contains many strong, harsh, and violent statements that have become mottos for fundamentalists who cite these passages as their defense for actions such as bombing abortion clinics, or pouring their life savings into the "Vote No on Prop. 8" campaign. Islam is not any more of a problem than any other religion -- the problem lies with those who place too much prominence on religion and insist on turning its outdated and discriminatory ideas into a modern-day reality.
Posted by Lana Bode on 04/04/2009 @ 07:51AM PT
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See A J's comments below for a textbook example of the point I am trying to make. I take it you may be a Christian who takes your religion in stride, lives in peace with humanity, and supports human rights without discrimination. Most Muslims similarly take their religion in stride. It is the extremists among all religions that wreak havoc.
Posted by Lana Bode on 04/04/2009 @ 09:14AM PT
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Did someone say that the King James version of the Holy Bible was authoritative? Not when I last looked. This is a good way to begin creating community. First, as Ashley Montagu suggested nearly 100 years ago, 'race,' whatever that means, should be shown the door. That does leave the biological definition of gender as a point of departure. Does that make sense? If not, there can be no discussion. Faith experiences and social constructs are, for me, one in the same. Most of my life has been associated with political movements. They are what they are, they describe who gets what in a finite setting. In America, we just keep on trying to manage feudalism by smoke and mirrors. A rose by any other name...
Enjoy the dialogue. First Americans do exist, though they do not call themselves Americans. Rights are not inherent, they do not come with the package called existence.
Posted by charles mcgee on 04/04/2009 @ 06:59AM PT
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It is disgrace to even to call such people “gays”... To be gay means to be light-heart and happy... I protest at the word being used for deplorable
Sodomites are sodomites… lets call them what they are. There is certainly nothing “gay” about them. Sodomy is a blight on society and this disgusting behaviour ought to be made illegal in every country and firmly enforced… yes and if necessary by extermination.
Posted by A J on 04/04/2009 @ 07:22AM PT
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And would you also recommend extermination for all the straight people in the world who bring sodomy into the bedroom? And is being lesbian more acceptable to you than being gay? Sodomy is a sexual practice not confined to gays, and not even used by many gays.
Posted by Lana Bode on 04/04/2009 @ 07:58AM PT
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Hello Lana:
I am referring to what some people refer to as practicing "homosexuals." If people consistently defy the (proposed) law then how else can this blight be removed?
Under Old Testament law every man who lay with another man to commit a sexual act was rewarded by death. This is how awful God sees this behaviour. However, there is now grace to repent of such things and the offer of restoration through salvation to God's ordained order of sexual relationship.
Although we know that the Koran is not a divinely inspired book, it’s views on sodomy are Biblical and, therefore, morally correct.
Posted by A J on 04/04/2009 @ 08:14AM PT
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Basil, case in point. The fault does not lie with Islam. I was brought up as an extremist Christian, taught that homosexuality is evil and deserving of death. I was also taught that gays are evil, lurk in alleys, rape young children, and force them to become gay as well. Only when I left the sequestered community where I was brought up did I realize the ridiculous falsity of these notions.
A J, as to Old Testament law, do you realize that along with gays being stoned, the "punishment" for raping a woman is that she must marry the rapist? Do you realize that sexual infidelity is somehow acceptable for men, but not for women? When do men accused of infidelity ever have to drink dust water or have their genitals rot? No, only the women.
I know the Bible VERY well. If you ever rebelled against your parents, or so much as prepared food on the Sabbath, you are also deserving of death by stoning.
Posted by Lana Bode on 04/04/2009 @ 09:11AM PT
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Your mind's been buggered.
Straight kids do it and call it chastity these days.
I protest the use of the word to imply lame. Like, dude YOU ARE SO GAY !
Posted by ophelia omai on 04/04/2009 @ 10:18AM PT
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hey a j -- your nonexistent ridiculous mythological joke of a "god" can blow me! oops -- that would make him "gay" and he would have to be put to death! so be it! lol!
Posted by Benjamin Crow on 04/08/2009 @ 12:47PM PT
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Reply to AJ.
The word GAY is actualy A three-letter acronym (abbreviation) standing for "Good As You" it has nothing to do with a state of happiness or joy.
Speaking as a psychologist, I call to question your sexuality or represed sexuality; vitrolic words of hatred in instances of this nature always have a lever, usualy guilt often mixed with religon!
Posted by Rick Jones on 04/11/2009 @ 11:28AM PT
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Should read..." I protest at the deplorable way this English word is being used."
Posted by A J on 04/04/2009 @ 07:28AM PT
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Al Jot: You need to get some therapy for your hatred issues or just go ahead and come OUT of the closet! We are all HUMAN and deserve the same rights which should be the main issue! We should put down our differences and make the world a better place for ALL to live.
Posted by S H on 04/04/2009 @ 07:48AM PT
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S H"Better place..." not while sodomy is allowed... it only makes the world far worse... It's sodomites who need your so-called "therapy."
We cannot put away our God-given conscious of what is right and wrong but must obey that against the lies perpetrated by the wicked one.
Posted by A J on 04/04/2009 @ 08:02AM PT
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A J, can you name one way that homosexuality makes your life worse, or makes life worse for straight people in general? The only thing I can think of is being romantically rebuffed by a gay man. Get real!
Posted by Lana Bode on 04/04/2009 @ 09:17AM PT
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It makes no sense to me that we tolerate the kind of government that Iraq decided to set up. It all goes back, IMO, to cultural relativsm. Some people believe that we shouldn't judge other cultures. I say that is nonsense.
Posted by Charles Courson on 04/04/2009 @ 08:51AM PT
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Judge? Then what? It would follow that there would be enforcement. Otherwise, what is the use. It is understood that we homo sapiens can make noises, but the meaning is with the sender, not the receiver. Tell me what is next? FIRE, spoken loudly in a theatre in China, prompts a 'shhh.'
Posted by charles mcgee on 04/04/2009 @ 09:11AM PT
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can you say aids? at least they are getting rid of their turd ryders. we got em accumulating in iowa now. human contamination.
Posted by jack eich on 04/04/2009 @ 11:36AM PT
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Homosexuality has existed since ancient times, and according to my knowledge of history, was far more widespread among the ancient Greeks and Romans than among any modern-day civilizations. Therefore, I don't see how homosexuals ought to be blamed for the modern-day AIDS epidemic. Homosexual sex is not the only way to contract AIDS. Unprotected heterosexual sex can be just as devastating as unprotected homosexual sex. The answer is not to kill gays, but to practice safe sex -- and hopefully discover better AIDS treatments in the near future.
Posted by Lana Bode on 04/04/2009 @ 12:45PM PT
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kelly hansen...I reported you and suggested they block your access then report you to homeland security.
Your sick and dangerous!
Posted by Andrew Jake Mladinich III on 04/04/2009 @ 11:50AM PT
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One of the most discouraging things about today's Muslims is the fact that so many of them claim that they are following their religion while not following the "rules" that are in the Qur'an. They are not to fight wars; they are not to murder/kill other people; they are to be respectful to women; etc..
Gail Simon
Posted by Gail Simon on 04/04/2009 @ 12:42PM PT
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No, but I sure think you, white American E. Small and an amazingly sad number of posters before you, are stupid (a third grade teacher would....). Very dangerously stupid- and 'you' think 'we' threaten you!
Posted by ophelia omai on 04/04/2009 @ 11:53PM PT
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Sorry, not to encourage misunderstanding saying 'we'- I'm white and gay and not Muslim.
And, I only speak for myself.
Posted by ophelia omai on 04/05/2009 @ 12:00AM PT
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I agree with the liberal comments but are we just talking and doing more talking. Action is needed NOW. Why now get on with our own lives and stop trying to live the lives of others. We should all be respected, if honest and true to love and liberty for all is to continue in to the future otherwise we will be going backwards without respect and compassion. We are all born the same and go out the same so where are we different. Lets hear about those who abuse children, including many priests and rabbis, lets make sure they know that these vile actions will not be tolerated now or in the future.
This comment is from one human being to another.
Posted by elaine kilshaw on 04/05/2009 @ 04:13AM PT
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I hope everyone posting on this blog (or interested enough to read these comments) has also signed the petition referenced in the article. I don't know what other action I could take at this point...
Posted by Lana Bode on 04/05/2009 @ 06:25AM PT
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I hope everyone posting on this blog (or interested enough to read these comments) has also signed the petition referenced in the article. I don't know what other action I could take at this point...
Posted by Lana Bode on 04/05/2009 @ 06:25AM PT
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Deny the validity of 'categories' over all-inclusive humanity. If nothing changes, nothing changes.
Posted by charles mcgee on 04/05/2009 @ 10:43AM PT
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To Lana Bode,
Dear Lana Bode, your are a credit to humanity and non violence!
I hope you are blessed with the love and compassion returned that you lavish on others. I feel so sorry for the people posting who obviously live from a viewpoint of ignorance, fear and hate, especially the persons who choose to use books of faith as there weapon of choice, yet remain blind of there own violence.
There is a web site : http://iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com/
It is a real education of the facts, they even have a few videos of the safe houses and interviews with a few of the people in hiding. I to feel somewhat helpless as to the ways I can help, but I got some leaflets form Ali Hili at ,iraqi-lgbt he could only spare a few as they are really so short of finances trying to provide safe secret housing for some of the LGBT persons in danger. I got a local collage to let me use there photo copying free of charge, and I replicate the leaflet and pass it out! I also give a little money each month via paypal!
It is incredable there is so much hate in the name of faith when the number one message form such idologies professes to be love.
Posted by Rick Jones on 04/05/2009 @ 07:33PM PT
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