Eleventh Avenue South: Iraqi Gays Are Being Murdered

August 9, 2006

Iraqi Gays Are Being Murdered

The freedom that America has brought to Irag looks like this:

"Graphic photos obtained from Baghdad sources too frightened to identify themselves as having known a gay man, and seen by the Observer, show other gay Iraqis who have been executed. One shows two men, suspected of having a relationship, blindfolded with their hands tied behind their backs - guns at the ready behind their heads - awaiting execution. Another picture captured on a mobile phone shows a gay man being beaten to death. Yet another shows a corpse being dragged through the streets after his execution."

How can this occur in a 'fledgling democracy"?

"Homosexuality is seen as so immoral that it qualifies as an 'honour killing' to murder someone who is gay - and the perpetrator can escape punishment. Section 111 of Iraq's penal code lays out protections for murder when people are acting against Islam."

This is extremely depressing. The United States should grant assylum and refugee status for the victims of fundamentalist religion in that country. After all, it was American intervention that allowed this type of violence to occur.

{via fiveoclockbot]

Posted by Andy at August 9, 2006 11:45 AM

Comments

These acts are extremely vile and heinous, but I would caution against making statements like...

"After all, it was American intervention that allowed this type of violence to occur."

From this source (http://civilliberty.about.com/b/a/255300.htm) comes the following:

"In 2001, President Saddam Hussein--in a ploy to appeal to the same radical leaders who now make up the core of the Badr Organization--signed a law mandating the death penalty for homosexuality."

Saddam was hardly "gay friendly" before he tumbled...

Just goes to show the true face of Islam, once again.

Posted by: Mark | August 11, 2006 9:20 AM

So, the true face of Islam is about bigotry and hatred? How about this example: The Spanish Inquisition was an internal ethnic cleansing fought in the name Christianity against the Jews. Which country took in those Jews, the Ottoman Empire, a Muslim Empire!

Furthermore, homosexuality was not banned throughout Persia or the Ottoman Empire. Fanatics, religious or otherwise, such as Hitler and Saddam are what drive religious and homosexual hatred and violence, not the actual written religion. It will always be the people in political power that dictate the social atmosphere within a country. Regardless of ones ethnicity or religion, a good fair leader will be good and fair to all.

Posted by: Kim | August 13, 2006 9:22 PM

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August 9, 2006

Iraqi Gays Are Being Murdered

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