Iraq criminalises same-sex relations and makes them punishable by up to 15 years in jail

Posed by models (Image: By Alessandro Alle from Pixabay)

Iraq’s parliament has passed a new law making same-sex relations punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Being trans could be punishable by one to three years in jail, according to documents seen by AFP.

Meanwhile doctors who perform gender reassignment surgery in the Middle Eastern country will also face prison under amendments to an anti-prostitution law from 1988.

LGBTQ people in Iraq had previously been prosecuted under anti-sodomy laws and under vague legal clauses in Iraq’s criminal code.

The new law, which also criminalises wife-swapping and ‘promotion’of sex work, originally called for capital punishment for same-sex relations, but was amended after facing opposition overseas.

‘Promoting’ same-sex relations will also carry a minimum seven-year sentence.

UK Secretary of State Lord

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