Iraq Criminalizes LGBTQ Degeneracy In New Law

Those who promote homosexuality or prostitution, doctors who perform gender reassignment surgery, men who "intentionally" act like women and those who engage in "wife swapping" will face prison terms in the new legislation passed by Iraq's parliament.

A previous draft of the bill -- an amendment to an anti-prostitution law that was passed in the late 1980s -- had proposed capital punishment for same-sex relationships. This was however amended in the final draft following pressure from the United States and Europe.

Passing the bill had been delayed until after Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani's visit to the US earlier this month, according to lawmaker Raed al-Maliki, who advanced the amendments. "We didn't want to impact the visit," he reportedly said, adding that it was "an internal matter and we do not accept any interference in Iraqi affairs."

The legislation has wide support in the Islamic middle eastern country. Major Iraqi political parties have in recent years stepped up criticism of LGBT degeneracy, with rainbow flags being burned at protests. Member of Parliament Amir al-Maamouri told Shafaq News that the new law was "a significant step in combating sexual deviancy given the infiltration of unique cases contradicting Islamic and societal values."

Passing  of the legislation has triggered criticisms from western LGBTQ activists and governments.

UK Secretary of State Lord David Cameron in a post on X, described the amendments as "dangerous and worrying." He wrote: "No one should be targeted for who they are. We encourage the Government of Iraq to uphold human rights and freedoms of all people without distinction."

US State Department claimed in a statement that the the law threatens human rights and freedoms. "The legislation also weakens Iraq's ability to diversify its economy and attract foreign investment," it added.

Meanwhile conservative activists and commentators in the west praise the law's passage. Critics say the middle eastern country's law helps in combating the destructive degenerate social norms pushed aggressively around the world by left-wing globalists.