Why should the US tackle the problem of homosexual killings in Iraq?

Résumé du document

In Iraq, militias are targeting men suspected to be homosexual or not “manly” enough in a killing campaign without reaction of any government. The US has a responsibility to enforce international human rights laws in order to prevent a sexual cleansing in the country after the withdrawal of its troops.

It is important to understand the socio-religious background of Iraq in order to deal with the issue of homosexuality. First, homosexuality is a religious concern because for most Islamic scholars, the Qur'anic verses disapprove of homosexuality. They use several passages of the Qu'ran, the central text of Islam, to prove that homosexuality is a sin.

For instance, they often mention the story of the “people of Lot”, destroyed by Allah because of their homosexual practice. Additionally, homosexuality is perceived as a violation of the natural order and the human values of the Iraqi society. Homosexuals in Iraq are traditionally represented as men who behave like women, serving as an object of male sexual gratification. It is a common belief that humans are naturally heterosexuals and that, consequently, homosexuals suffer from mental disorders. Gay people are also accused of transmitting diseases such as AIDS. The comments of Dr Muzammil Siddiqi, a prominent American theologian and Islamic scholar, summarize the Iraqi idea of homosexuality: “homosexuality is a moral disorder. It is a moral disease, a sin and corruption […] No person is born homosexual, just like no one is born thief, a liar or murderer. People acquire these evil habits due to a lack of proper guidance and education ”. In Iraq, homosexuality is a shame, a humiliation and provokes social disgrace. For this reason, homosexuals are often victims of “honor killings” in which they are accused by a member of their family of bringing dishonor on them and murdered.

Extraits

[...] They should respect the values and traditions here in Iraq”. The Iraqi government is weak and cannot contain the growing influence of religious extremists who act in total impunity. We can even say that it is a party to the militias' killings. The US government failed to implement democracy in Iraq which was one of its goals to justify the invasion. "These killings point to the continuing and lethal failure of Iraq's post-occupation authorities to establish the rule of law and protect their citizens," said Rasha Moumneh, Middle East researcher for Human Rights Watch. [...]

[...] Conclusion As a conclusion, we can say that the US has a singular responsibility to protect homosexuals from the sexual cleansing currently occurring in Iraq. Attacks have escalated into unprecedented levels of homophobic violence, including targeted assassinations. Several international reports from the UN, Amnesty International, etc, have recently confirmed that there are organized campaigns to kill gays in Iraq. These killings are taking place under the order of religious fundamentalists who rule the country with the help of armed militias. [...]

[...] II - A sexual cleansing in the making A - Increase in violence against homosexuals after the fall of Saddam Hussein Iraq is now one of the most dangerous places for homosexuals. Since the US invasion of the country, there has been an escalation of violence and human rights violations against gay people. Under Saddam Hussein's regime, homosexuality was tacitly accepted as long as it remained private; now gay people are persecuted and hunted down by militiamen. Many Iraqi homosexuals expected an improvement of their situation after the American invasion of Iraq and were disillusioned to find their situation worse than before. [...]

[...] A Washington Post article claims, attacks on gay men appear to have coincided with a call by religious leaders [ ] to curb behavior that clerics called unnatural and unhealthy[8].” Religious fundamentalists impose an atmosphere of intolerance and intimidation in the country and do not hide their hatred for homosexuals. In short, we can assert that militias are waging a campaign of sexual cleansing in Iraq. The violence against gay people is unfortunately only one example of the Iraqi society's chaos. [...]

[...] In December 2006, the United Nations confirmed in their Human Rights Report of the United Nations Assistance Mission In Iraq[10] (UNAMI) that although “attacks on homosexuals and intolerance of homosexual practices have long existed; they have escalated in the past years[11]”. It was the first time that a UN report concerning Iraq had a section entitled “Sexual Orientation[12]” specifically referring to homosexual killings. The report openly implicated militias in the violence, stating that “Islamic groups and militias have been known to be particularly hostile towards homosexuals, frequently and openly engaging in violent campaigns against them[13]”. [...]