Iraq Parliament Explores Ways to Criminalize Homosexuality

[Anthea]

Ways to Criminalize Homosexuality

The Iraqi parliament recently convened to conduct an initial review of an anti-prostitution bill in an attempt to add provisions that would criminalize homosexuality in the country

The bill aims to amend Iraq's penal code 8 of 1988, which currently prohibits prostitution. The proposed amendments seek to classify homosexual relationships as criminal offenses in Iraq, according to Iraqi media.

In a statement after the meeting, the Iraqi parliament noted that amending the law is in line with the inherent human nature created by God, who created human beings as males or females.

The amendment is also seen by the parliament as a way to safeguard the integrity of Iraqi society by preventing deviations and addressing the spread of paraphilic tendencies in the country.

Moreover, Deputy Speaker of Iraqi Parliament Muhsin al-Mandalawi stressed that the existing law "should be amended, and the legal vacuum on criminalizing 'paraphilia' and those who promote it should be addressed in a way that merits severe punishment."

The penal code of Iraq doesn't include distinct regulations concerning homosexuality, leaving a gap in terms of both punitive measures and explicit rights. Therefore, the LGBT+ community in Iraq is prosecuted under the current anti-prostitution law and article 393 of the 1969 Iraqi penal code, which strongly prohibits acts of rape or sodomy.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/821275