Iraq criminalizes same-s+x relationships with maximum 15 years imprisonment; vows imprisonment for men who intentionally act like women, transgenders

Iraq’s parliament has passed a law criminalising same-s+x relationships with a maximum 15-year prison sentence under the amendments to a 1988 anti-prostit¥tion law, which were adopted during a session attended by 170 out of 329 lawmakers.

The Parliament said the new law is a move aimed to uphold religious values, but was c+ndemned by rights advocates as the latest att+ck on the LGBTQ community in Iraq, Al Jazeera is reporting.

According to a copy of the law seen by the Reuters news agency, the law adopted on Saturday aims to “protect Iraqi society from moral depravity and the calls for homosexuality that have overtaken the world.” It was backed mainly by conservative Shia Muslim parties who form the largest coalition in Iraq’s parliament.

The Law on Combating Pro§titution and Homosexuality bans same-s+x 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 pro§titution. Also, the law includes a sentence ranging from one to three years for men who “intentionally” act like women.

The amended law makes “biological s+x change based on personal desire and inclination” a crime and punishes transgender people and doctors who perform gender-affirming surgery with up to three years in prison. The bill had initially included the d£ath penalty for same-s+x acts but was amended before being passed after strong opposition from the United States and European nations.

More than 60 countries criminalise gay s+x, while same-s+x sexual acts are legal in more than 130 countries, according to Our World in Data.