While one of the biggest concerns of homosexuals in America is winning the right to marry; in other nations, gays are more worried about staying alive, especially in Iraq. The right to kill people simply for being gay is apparently one of the freedoms the United States has won for Iraqis.
As we await Governor David Paterson's introduction of a bill to allow same-sex marriage in New York State, making it the fifth in the nation to sanction legal gay unions, Iraqi LGBT is pleading for help from countries around the world. According to Iraqi LGBT. a human rights organization supporting Iraq's persecuted lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered population (even going as far as hiding some of them in safe houses to save them from being executed by religious extremists), more than 400 gay men have been 'murdered' in Iraq since 2004 due to their sexual orientation.
In the past couple of weeks alone, half a dozen men have been executed by members of their own tribes in Iraq. According to CNN (Cable News Network), two were shot and killed in the Shiite slums of the Sadr City area of Baghdad after being disowned by their families because of their homosexuality. After tribal meetings were held, members decided to hunt them men down and 'exterminate' them. A leading cleric has repeatedly condemned homosexuality and has encourged their elimination. Also, a cafe that was suspected to be frequented by gay Iraqis was firebombed. This information came from an official with Iraq's Interior Ministry, who chose not to reveal his identity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media. Gays in Iraq is not a subject that the Iraqi government wants to talk about. Iraqi authorities scoff at the subject and even scold reporters for asking about it.
The truth has come out anyway. The United Nations has released a report detailing the campaign to kill gays in Iraq. Islamic groups and militias, including Badr Brigades and the Shia Militia, have been known to be particularly hostile towards homosexuals, frequently and openly engaging in violent attacks against them. The report has confirmed there have been a 'number of assassinations of homosexuals in Iraq. Many times, their mutilated bodies are found with broken arms and legs and the word 'pervert' carved into their chests. The odd thing is that only gay, bisexual and transgendered men are being targeted. Lesbians are left alone and allowed to live their lifestyle freely.
Iraqi LGBT is urgently requesting that the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations Human Rights Commission, other human rights groups and all worldwide governments intervene with due speed to prevent this tragic miscarriage of justice from going ahead. Ali Hili of Iraqi LGBT has said all members of the group have been banned from any activity on Iraqi soil. Hili reports 17 members of Iraqi LGBT have been killed in raids by police and Ministry of Interior forces. President Brarack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are being asked to hold Nouri al-Malaki, Iraq's Prime Minister, accountable for the flagrant violation of international law.
The situation continues to become more grave and has escalated over recent years. Currently, 128 prisoners are on 'Death Row' in Iraq awaiting execution. They were convicted for the 'crime' of homosexuality by the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. Iraqi authorities soon plan to start executing them in batches of twenty. Last years, 285 were sentenced to death with at least 34 of them executed already. In 2007, 199 were convicted with 33 executed. In 2006, sixty five were convicted with only two hung. The actual figures could be much higher as official records aren't always readily available for release.
It makes you wonder how the gay people of Iraq really feel about the United States. We've made life much more difficult for them while not doing a thing to protect them. Believe it or not, life was actually better for gays under Saddam Hussein, who essentially had a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy in place. Not one homosexual was ever convicted of the 'crime' of being gay and put to death because of their sexual orientation under his regime.
What can be done to stop this atrocity? Since America has already stuck our nose into that nation's business, as long as we're there, should we take things one step further and demand the Iraqi government do something to protect its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered citizens? Is it right for President Obama, or at least Secretary of State Clinton, to speak up and insist the carnage against gays be stopped immediately, along with reversing court decisions and release from prisons those who have been convicted and sentenced to death simply for their sexual orientation? Let your voice be heard. Express your opinion and outrage by contacting your local LGBT organization or Human Rights Commission. Demand an end to the killings based on sexual preferences. Without action, it will only get worse before it gets better and is totally alleviated. If we want Iraq to become a democracy, let the greatest democracy in the world lead by example. Even though gays don't have equal rights in America yet; we at least have to start somewhere.
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Comments: 54
Christians hate lesbians/gays and have killed them in the name of their god.
Muslims hate lesbians/gays and have killed them in the name of their god.
Both think they are the better of the two religions. They are all equally bad.
Um, not sure how you made this correlation. Iraqi religious nut jobs have been supporting and performing murder long before the US ever landed the first soldier.
Well it just so happened that Planned Parenthood also showed up to try and save some of the funding that is getting cut for family planning services.
The Christian Coalition was screaming and yelling so loud and cursing at our staff and doctors that we opted to leave out of respect for our state lawmakers and legislators.
And planned parenthood is supposed to be evil epitomized.
We left...they stayed...we didnt name call they did....we didnt try and start a fight they did.
But we are bad.
While everyone might not agree with our mission those people are just so scary...in a radical "I will show you how wrong abortion is by killing doctors and nurses who happen to be mothers and fathers and husbands and wives"
What is that saying? Evil is as evil does?
I think killing someone because they are gay is wrong. I think voilence against gays and lesbians need to stop everywhere.
Now let me ask you.
If you are a rape victim and get pregnant should you have to carry that child?
How many kids have you adopted?
Do you think about someone quality of life or is it just preservation then you my your own business?
Would you rather see a fetus aborted or force the mother to have the child and that child is abused for years and then murdered?
If you dont agree with abortion fine...then dont have one but its not up to you to take the rights of others away.
And as much as all the pro lifers want to make abortion illegal you need to realize that that will not eliminate abortions it will just make coat hanger stock go up.
It is the radicals on both sides that ruin it for everyone else.
I think the men are hung, and women stoned to death for it. Horrible...
Of course all of this is done informally without the courts permission.
Thank you for this informative, although sobering article. This practice is an atrocity, and I hope Amnesty International is looking into it, as I fear our own Gov't will not touch it with a ten foot pole.
It is the radicals on both sides that ruin it for everyone else.
Lori F., Apr 16, 2009, 10:09am EDT
^^^^^
I get it Vivian I just didnt want you to think I was trying to offend you.
I dont care what religion anyone practises but I think religion should be personal and practised where it belongs at your home and in your church.
When anyones religion interfers with a non believer of that religions rights then I see a problem.
I am not a right to lifer I worked with the terminally ill and believe in ones right to die. Have have been appalled by these people who picket clinics.
I have no respect for these people who warp the Holy Bibles word and use it to fuel their hate. These better than you fools who give my Father a bad name.
I do agree it is the radicals on both sides that ruin it and give people negative images or thoughts about Christian and Muslim views.
I choose life over death if I could.
However I am all for the death pentalty.
Yeah, I am mixed with a little of both.
I see a weak force within the religious sector, who allow radical fundamentalist to take the lead, which poisons the rest.
When you don't take action against that which is wrong, you protect it and allow it to gain power.
Amen Debra W
I do think we live in a very sad world where we SHOULD all be loving one another and treating one another as equals.
poor ROBBBBB
Our Pride is this weekend, and I never miss it as it's the number one most fun I ever have in a year, the one place I have nothing to worry about from anyone, where no one judges anyone and all are free to joyfully be just as outrageous as they wish, it's awesome! The only draw to it is to get to the festival, just before entering the grounds as in every year before I will have to pass through a crowd of people the likes of which have always scared me the most. They don't know me, my friends or anything about us but they hate us and are very vocal about it. I don't judge all their ilk by this group but they identify themselves as christians, very scary folks and such a shame to darken our parade. Fortunately our Sheriff and Police will have them controlled, my best friend will control me to keep me from jumping on them and we will enter, won't take long before they're the last thing on our mind but they are there every year................
ben c again if YOU dont agree with abortion dont have one.
Abortion is an addiction? You mean like nicotine or caffeine?
This is just a short example.
On December 12, 2008 in Richmond, California a 28 year old lesbian was kidnapped and gang raped by four men who made homophobic remarks during the attack.[67]
On December 16, 2008 in Washington, DC Durval Martins, 35, was shot in the head and killed while walking home from a local gay bar. Police said Martins’ cell phone, cash, credit cards and jewelry were still in his possession.[68]
on December 26, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Avery Elzy and Michael Hunt, a gay couple, were killed in their home along with one of their three dogs. A twenty year old man, Christopher Conwell, was arrested on 31 December and admitted to the murders two weeks later. [69]
On December 27, 2008 in Dayton, Ohio 24 year old Nathan Runkle was brutally assaulted outside a gay nightclub.[70]
On February 15, 2009 in New York City Efosa Agbontaen and Branden McGillvery-Dummett were attacked by four young men with glass bottles and box cutters who used anti-gay slurs during the attack. Agbontaen and McGillvery-Dummett both required emergency room treatment for their injuries.[71]
On February 18, 2009 two men were arrested in Stroudsburg, PA for the stabbing death of gay veteran Michael Goucher [72]
On March 1, 2009 in Galveston, Texas three men entered Roberts Lafitte bar and attacked patrons with rocks. One of the victims, Marc Bosaw, was sent to the emergency room to have 12 staples in his head.[73]
On March 3, 2009 in Bickley, in the London Borough of Bromley 59 year old Gerry Edwards was stabbed to death by an assailant shouting homophobic abuse. His partner of over two decades, 56 year old Chris Bevan, was also stabbed and was left in a critical condition in hospital. [74] [75]
On March 14, 2009 a gay couple leaving a concert in Newark, New Jersey were attacked by 15 teens. Josh Kehoe and Bobby Daniel Caldwell were called "faggots" and beaten. Caldwell suffered a broken jaw.[76]
On March 23, 2009 in Seaside, Oregon two gay men were attacked and left lying unconscious on a local beach. The men regained consciousness and were treated at a nearby hospital.[77]
On Saturday April 11, 2009 a gay man in Gloucester, Massachusetts was attacked and beaten by as many as six people outside a bar. Justin Goodwin, 36, of Salem suffered a shattered jaw, broken eye socket, broken nose and broken cheek bone.[78]
In Baltimore County, Maryland on May 29, 2008 eighteen year old Steven Parrish—a member of the Young Swans subgroup of the Bloods—was murdered by Steven T. Hollis III and Juan L. Flythe after they found "gay messages" on his cell phone. They felt having a gay member would make their gang appear weak and that by killing Parrish they could prevent that perception.[60]
25 July 2008, 18 year old Michael Causer was attacked by a group of men at a party in Liverpool, England[61] He later died from his injuries. It is alleged that he was killed because he was gay. The case continues.
September 7, 2008 - Tony Randolph Hunter, 27, and his partner were attacked and beaten near a gay bar in Washington DC. Hunter later died from his injuries on September 18th. Police are investigating it as a possible hate crime.[1][2]
September 13, 2008 in Denver, Colorado 26 year old Nima Daivari was attacked by a man who called him faggot. The police that arrived on the scene refused to make a report of the attack.[62]
September 15, 2008 - A Bourbonnais, Illinois elementary school bus driver was charged with leading a homophobic attack on a 10-year old student passenger. The boy was taunted by the driver who then encouraged other students to chase and beat the child. [3]
Anyone who has that kind of mentality is not thinking clearly. Killing a doctor who performs abortions is wrong. Killing anyone is wrong. I believe abortion is wrong. I realize you were referring to a particular group of fanatical Christians. Not all those who are Christians behave that way. I don't claim to be a Christian, and as far as religion goes, I don't actually have one specific one. I think Christianity has many great points and ideals. Unfortunately, I have had some very negative experiences in the name of someone being a Christian. I just think it is important to remember that it's the person, not necessarily the religion that is the problem.
As far as killing homosexuals, that's wrong. Regardless of who does it. It is an atrocity. The people who are doing this are religious fanatical looneys in my opinion. I am not saying that the U.S. should do nothing, however, what happens when our troops finally come home? Who will stop it from happening again?
I did not know this. It brings tears to my eyes, even though it's something I ought to have been aware of. When can we just be human beings, loving whomever we love?
Good article, seriously. There ought to be a way for us to accept each other as we are, care about the person inside, have all types/kinds of friends, we've lived like this always.
What happened to Do Not Judge, or Do No Harm? Did we throw it out?
Marilyn
Yes there are bad so called "christians" but not all Christians are this way
A little hypocritical, wouldn't you say?
I am not religious, but I have many people in my life that are...they don't hate gays or any other minority because they are informed people!
Thanks for bringing this to the forefront of our minds Rob. Well done.