“Iraq Makes Same-Sex Relationships Illegal”

In a controversial move, Iraq government passed a bill on Saturday criminalising same-sex relations, which will receive a sentence ...

In a controversial move, Iraq government passed a bill on Saturday criminalising same-sex relations, which will receive a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, in a move rights groups condemned as an “attack on human rights”. This was the latest attack on the LGBTQ community in the country. A report by the news agency Reuters said that the law, passed by parliament, aims to protect the Iraqi society from moral depravity and the calls for homosexuality that have overtaken the world.
The Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality bans same-sex relations with at least 10 years and a maximum of 15 years in prison and mandates at least seven years in prison for anybody who promotes homosexuality or prostitution.
According to Reuters, the Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality initially included the death penalty for same-sex acts but was amended before being passed after strong opposition from the United States (US) and European countries.