Iraq bans media from utilizing time period ‘homosexuality’, asks to make use of ‘sexual deviance’

Iraq’s official media regulator on Tuesday ordered all media and social media corporations working within the Arab state to not use the time period “homosexuality” and as an alternative to say “sexual deviance,” the regulator mentioned.

The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) mentioned in an announcement that using the time period “gender” was additionally banned. It prohibited all telephone and web corporations licensed by it from utilizing the phrases in any of their cellular purposes.

The regulator “directs media organisations … not to use the term ‘homosexuality’ and to use the correct term ‘sexual deviance’,” the Arabic-language assertion mentioned.

A authorities spokesperson mentioned a penalty for violating the rule had not but been set however may embody a fantastic.

Iraq doesn’t explicitly criminalise homosexual intercourse however loosely outlined morality clauses in its penal code have been used to focus on members of the LGBT group.

Major Iraqi events have prior to now two months stepped up criticism of LGBT rights, with rainbow flags continuously being burned in protests by Shi’ite Muslim factions against latest Koran burnings in Sweden and Denmark.

More than 60 nations criminalise homosexual intercourse, whereas same-sex sexual acts are authorized in additional than 130 nations, in response to Our World in Data.

Published On:

Aug 9, 2023