On Saturday, the Iraqi parliament approved a new law against homosexuality that includes fines and severe prison sentences of up to 15 years. This law is an amendment to the "prostitution" law enacted in 1988. It is noted that the amendment presented to the Iraqi government in August 2023 originally included harsher provisions such as life imprisonment and the death penalty for those convicted of engaging in homosexual relations.
According to media reports, the new law was approved by the Iraqi parliament on Saturday with a majority of 170 out of 239 representatives voting in favor. They approved the text of the amended bill, which includes lighter penalties following pressure from various Western countries and entities.
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohsen Al-Mandalawi stated that the new legislation aims to protect the "moral fabric" of society, adding, "There is no place for homosexuality in Iraq, the land of prophets, pure imams, and righteous saints."
Under the law, Iraqi authorities have the right to arrest and prosecute those classified as "homosexuals." The law categorizes what it considers to be crimes of "prostitution, homosexuality, gender change," and promoting these acts as "offenses against honor," meaning that a ruling against an official must be followed by a legal verdict removing them from their post.
The law imposes prison sentences varying up to 15 years, along with fines for homosexuality in any form, including "gender change, promotion of homosexuality, prostitution, and more."
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed concerns of the U.S. administration regarding the new legislation, stating that it could restrict freedom of expression in the country. He noted, "Respect for human rights and political and economic inclusion is essential for the security, stability, and prosperity of Iraq," adding that "this legislation is inconsistent with these values and undermines the efforts for political and economic reforms of the Iraqi government."
Additionally, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Elena Romanowski issued a statement expressing her country's "concern over the new legislation."
