05/05/2006
Iraqi Boy Murdered by the "Police" for Being Gay
Sickening. The witch hunt for gay Iraqis has led to the murder of a 14-year-old boy, apparently shot on his doorstep for being gay. And it's likely one of many cowardly crimes we haven't heard about.
The coordinator of a group of exiled Iraqis tells The Independent, "Young Ahmed was a victim of poverty. He was summarily executed, apparently by fundamentalist elements in the Iraqi police." It was not known whether or not Ahmed was actually gay.
"Neighbours in al-Dura district say Ahmed's father was arrested and interrogated two days before his son's murder by police who demanded to know about Ahmed's sexual activities. It is believed Ahmed slept with men for money to support his poverty-stricken family, who have fled the area fearing further reprisals."
And this reassuring bit of news:
"There is mounting evidence that fundamentalists have infiltrated government security forces to commit homophobic murders while wearing police uniforms. Human rights groups are particularly concerned that the Sadr and Badr militias, both Shia, have stepped up their attacks on the gay community after a string of religious rulings, since the US-led invasion, calling for the eradication of homosexuals."
Is this something that the U.S. military is aware of? Apparently, and here's maybe the most cowardly crime of all:
"Mr Hili, whose Abu Nawas group has close links with clandestine gay activists inside Iraq, said US coalition forces are unwilling to try and tackle the rising tide of homophobic attacks. 'They just don't want to upset the Iraqi government by bringing up the taboo of homosexuality even though homophobic murders have intensified,' he said."
Because God forbid we do anything to upset the "stable" government we've put in place there.
We're making progress in Iraq. Yes, real progress.
Iraqi police 'killed 14-year-old boy for being homosexual' [the independent]
Ahmed's Story: A Cruel, Barbaric Death [uk gay news]
Posted 10:21 AM EST by Andy Towle in Crime, Iraq | Permalink
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I totally agree that Islam is the greatest global threat to the rights and lives of LGBT people. Nods also to Jamaica nd Nigeria. Any kind of fundamentalism is dangerous though, as you point out, Christians and Communists have poor records too.
There is a problem however with America electing itself as moral arbitor and model of democracy and freedom for the world when it now has such issues with LGBT freedoms. But I do believe that this is down to the undemocratic American electoral system and the overwhelming voice and influence of the Christian right - and not the concensus of the American people.
Posted by: Peter Rivendell | May 6, 2006 12:00:14 PM
The growing hispanic population is also staunchly catholic and were courted by the GOP using the fear of gay marriage. Just saying.
Posted by: Chad Hanging | May 6, 2006 2:17:45 PM
I find it fasinating how so many people feel free to judge the actions and thoughts of others, having never been to or lived in thier world. Killing someone for homosexual reasons is an atrocity yes. Killing someone because they belong to a tribe or religious group is also an atrocity. Killing people in general is not a good thing, though sometimes necessary.
Iraq is not our country and we can't make all the rules. Iraq belongs to the Iraqis, wether they call themselves Suni, Shiia, Kurd, or Arab. This is more of an Amnesty International issue than one for the military. I thought all the liberals wanted the military to go more leinant on the prisoner-taking and let the Iraqi people deal with it. This is the result.
Posted by: Red | May 8, 2006 12:10:34 PM