Iraq criminalizes same-sex relations with maximum fifteen years in prison

(Patria) - The Iraqi parliament adopted a law on Saturday criminalizing same-sex relations with a maximum prison sentence of fifteen years, in a move aimed at supporting religious values, but rights advocates have condemned it as the latest attack on the LGBT community in Iraq.

The law aims to "protect Iraqi society from moral perversion and calls for homosexuality that have swept the world," according to a copy of the law seen by Reuters. It was largely supported by conservative Shiite Muslim parties that form the largest coalition in the parliament of largely Muslim Iraq.

The law on combating prostitution and homosexuality punishes same-sex relations with a minimum of ten and a maximum of fifteen years in prison, and stipulates a minimum of seven years in prison for anyone who promotes homosexuality or prostitution. It also provides for a prison sentence of one to three years for anyone who changes their "biological sex" or intentionally dresses in a feminine manner.

The bill included the death penalty for same-sex acts, but it was amended before being passed after strong opposition from the United States and European countries.

Until Saturday, Iraq had not explicitly criminalized homosexual relations, although loosely defined morality clauses in its penal code had been used to target LGBT people, and members of the community had also been killed by armed groups and individuals.

"The adoption of an anti-LGBT law by the Iraqi parliament marks Iraq's terrible record of violating the rights of LGBT people and represents a serious blow to fundamental human rights," said Rasha Younes, deputy director of LGBT rights programs at Human Rights Watch.

Major Iraqi parties have intensified their criticism of LGBT rights in the past year, and rainbow flags are often burned at protests by ruling and opposition conservative Shiite Muslim factions since last year.

More than 60 countries criminalize gay sex, while same-sex sexual acts are legal in more than 130 countries, according to Our World in Data.