This morning I was listening to CBC Radio (as I usually do) and I was amazed to hear a half hour dedicated to the hunting and killing of queer Iraqis.
I wrote about this topic recently and it garnered quite a bit of attention and for good reason: this is a form of genocide that is going on right now – and under the watch of countries who went into Iraq to “install freedom and protect the citizenry”.
The CBC segment featured two guests; one an Iraqi journalist who has been covering the story (he’s now living in Brazil to protect his life) and the other, Ali Hili (pictured at left), founder of Iraqi LGBT, a UK-based site where he chronicles the atrocities and on-going struggles of queer Iraqis.
Rival groups have united
to hunt and kill queers in Iraq
What both of these men said was shocking. Basically, the hatred and destruction of queers has united Suni and Shia militia groups who hunt, torture and kill gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in Iraq. The militia, sponsored by the government and police, consider homosexuality to be “a serious disease” and believe it is a threat to the future of Iraq. Queers are targeted by the militia and brutally tortured and killed. So far this year, approximately 130 gay men have been killed with over 680 (known) victims tortured and murdered since the invasion.
Ironically, gays had a much better live under the Saddam Hussein regime. According to Hili, gays got by fairly untouched pre-invasion, occasionally being called names. There were gay clubs and dances in Baghdad and – while homosexuality was never really encouraged – they managed to go about their lives relatively peacefully. However, that changed after the invasion. Gay men in particular have been targeted and find themselves falling victim to militia members and even members of their own families who kill them to protect their honour.
Gays are living in terror
in the epicenter of the War on Terror
The hunting and killing of queers is motivated by nothing more than religion and the reward for killing gays is an assured place in Heaven. Where have we heard that before?
Tragically, this is all happening under the watchful eyes of the West. It’s ironic that in the place that is the epicenter of the War on Terror, so many gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans people are living in terror every single day of their lives. It’s a terror we can help prevent.
To learn more about Iraqi LGBT and to keep up-to-date with the situation in Iraq, visit http://iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com/
To make your voice heard to our leaders please contact:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper at [email protected]
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon at [email protected]
