01/02/2008
Homosexual Prisoners Excluded from Iraqi Amnesty Bill
Iraq's parliament received a bill on Tuesday that could grant amnesty to thousands of detainees. Those imprisoned for homosexuality would remain locked up, however.
The AP reports: "The bill excludes those held in U.S. custody and those imprisoned for a variety of crimes ranging from terrorism, kidnapping and rape to antiquities smuggling, adultery and homosexuality. It also excludes senior figures of the former Baath regime. If passed in its current form, the bill could see some 5,000 prisoners released, al-Dabbagh said. The Iraqi government has about 20,000 people in custody, while the U.S. military holds about 25,000. Sunni parliamentarians have criticized the draft for its limited scope. They have argued that most prisoners are charged with terrorist crimes, rendering the bill ineffective. Some also fear referring the bill to Iraq's gridlocked parliament will actually delay prisoner releases."
What a travesty. Life in Iraq for gays is either stuck in prison or hiding in cells like terrorists, fearing for your life.
Related
NYT: Gays Hiding Like Terrorists in the New Iraq [tr]
Posted 6:16 PM EST by Andy Towle in Iraq, News | Permalink
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No surprises here....We are NOT welcome in the Middle East! LGBT people are below infidels and have no rights. That is other than to be hanged....
Posted by: RB | Jan 2, 2008 6:24:31 PM
Do you mean to say that Operation Enduring Freedom wasn't an unqualified success?
Posted by: FASTLAD | Jan 2, 2008 6:29:19 PM
Nice try Fastlad, but I will not take the bait.
Posted by: RB | Jan 2, 2008 6:36:14 PM
Duh, don't go to the Middle East, guys (even tho' the guys there are hot...it's just not worth it).
I bet there are not even decent gay bars over there.
Posted by: Jordan | Jan 2, 2008 7:15:50 PM
If only I had the money.....
I wish that there was an organization that was dedicated to rescuing/liberating/relocating gays and lesbians from countries in which they are persecuted. I wish that the US would open its arms and give these people a way out.
No one has more to lose from the imposition of Islamic law than do gays and lesbians. The Sharia is very clear about how homosexuality should be punished, and it ain't pretty. We either get walls knocked over atop us or we are thrown off the top of the highest building. The US "ally" al Sistani, who is a religious leader to millions of Iraqi Shiites, issued a fatwa condemning homosexuals and calling for them to be punished in the "worse way possible".
No mercy; dehumanization; death. That is what gays and lesbians can expect from Islam. Wherever Islamic law is imposed, it is we who usually suffer first. It must be opposed at every turn.
Posted by: Jonathon | Jan 2, 2008 7:16:29 PM
Amen Jonathon...preach the truth to the masses!!!
Posted by: RB | Jan 2, 2008 7:22:10 PM
What can you possibly say about that? I remember back in 2000. Oprah did a story about women in Afghanistan, having to be eternally covered with burkhas, plus every other tragedy they had to endure (and still have to suffer, to a degree less).
A Harpo petition was initiated, to pressure the government of Afghanistan to be more accepting, and lenient towards women. I know this, because I signed it.
Little then did we know that we would eventually be attacked for OUR ideals.
I guess my point is: freedom and democracy have a LONG way to go on the other side of the world, but in this country today, we have people who find Matthew Shepherd-style torturous ideals, still acceptable.
Humans will be enjoying trans-global travel, before homosexuals enjoy global equality and democracy.
We are not taking baby steps on a global scale. We are barely taking micro-steps. And there's not a damn thing we can do about it, except to maintain and remain steadfast; looking for any vulnerable crack to take advantage of, forever.
I am optimistic. But I am a realist as well.
September 11, 2001 should remind us of that reality. Until we are free we must never give up, until the end of time.
Posted by: lancegayhart | Jan 2, 2008 8:09:36 PM
Wow. Just like the homos in concentration camps in WWII: the allies liberated everyone but them - they stayed and died in jail. Too bad the world hasn't learned a damned thing in 63 years.
Posted by: Raybob | Jan 3, 2008 2:48:30 AM