2.8 LGBTIQ

Table of contents

2.8 LGBTIQ

In April 2024, an amendment to the 1988 anti-prostitution law was adopted, imposing prison sentences for same-sex relations.946 In addition, the anti-LGBTIQ law explicitly targets transgender women with penalties for ‘imitating women’. The law also outlaws undergoing or performing gender-affirming procedures, except for individuals born with intersex characteristics.947 While Iraq did not have an explicit anti-LGBTIQ legislation before this amendment,948 LGBTIQ individuals faced prosecutions under vague laws,949 such as those criminalising ‘immodest acts’ and ‘prostitution’, as well as Sharia law.950 LGBTIQ individuals were reported as living in fear already before the April 2024 legislation.951 There is no legal protection against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity in Iraq.952 The situation of LGBTIQ individuals is therefore reported as ‘extremely unsafe’.953 Individuals face threats to their physical safety, including harassment, assault, arbitrary detention, killings,954 kidnappings,955 torture, sexual violence,956 as well as online targeting.957 Risks were reported to emanate from armed groups,958 society at large,959 family,960 and state agents.961 The lack of accountability for abuses, combined with the prevailing patriarchal social norms, exacerbate the situation. LGBTIQ individuals are compelled to keep their identity secret to avoid abuses.962 Authorities use vague penal code provisions to prosecute LGBTIQ individuals.963 According to IraQueer, an Iraqi NGO supporting LGBTIQ rights based in Sweden, it is ‘nearly impossible’ to live openly as a LGBTIQ individual in Iraq, which the same source describes as ‘extremely dangerous’.964 NGOs openly supporting LGBTIQ rights cannot operate in Iraq without risking closure or prosecution.965

Since the 2019 Tishreen (October) protests, sociopolitical discourse focused on criticising gender and homosexuality, portraying them as a ‘western plot aimed at undermining Islamic values and societal norms’, according to scholar Balsam Mustafa.966 This trend has had a negative repercussion particularly on female activists, feminists, and LGBTIQ individuals.967 Starting in 2023, the Iraqi government has forbidden media companies to use the words ‘homosexuality’ and ‘gender’ and instructed them to use the word ‘sexual deviance’ when referring to homosexuality.968 Public discourse online was reportedly distorted by wrong translations of ‘gender’ into Arabic and equating the term with homosexuality.969 NGO and media sources indicated that online space has become increasingly dangerous for LGBTIQ individuals in 2024,970 LGBTIQ people were also targeted online971 and people who have expressed their LGBTIQ identity online faced harassment and death threats.972 In 2024, authorities pressured social media companies to remove LGBTIQ content.973 Media companies were also reported to contribute to homophobia by referring to LGBTIQ individuals using derogatory language and slurs.974 Anti-LGBTIQ sentiment has been fuelled in the recent years by politicians, media personalities975 and religious leaders, describing homosexuality as ‘immoral’.976 Conservative actors have framed homosexuality as an ‘western import’ that is not in line with Iraqi traditional values977 (See also 2.6. Women and girls).

Iraqi authorities accentuated their repression of LGBTIQ people in 2024.978 Since the passing of the April 2024 amendment to the anti-prostitution law, hate crimes against the LGBTIQ people have increased.979 People wishing to undergo gender-affirming healthcare reportedly do it on their own at home or move abroad for surgeries.980 Transgender individuals face difficulties when obtaining legal recognition from the authorities,981 which hinders their access to services.982 According to Haley Bobseine, same-sex relations and perceived violations of gender and sexual norms can also lead to honour killings.983

  • 947

    IraQueer, Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Iraq, July 2024, url, p. 7

  • 948

    Human Dignity Trust, Iraq, last updated 21 January 2025, url

  • 949

    Erasing 76 Crimes, Global update: The struggle for LGBTQ rights continues in Asia, 1 January 2025, url; The New Arab, Iraq bans media from using term ‘homosexuality’, says must use ‘sexual deviance’, 9 August 2023, url

  • 950

    Human Dignity Trust, Iraq, last updated 21 January 2025, url

  • 951

    MEE, Gay and trans Iraqis plagued by threats, violence - and now the law, 11 May 2024, url

  • 952

    IraQueer, Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Iraq, July 2024, url, p. 6

  • 953

    IPS, IRAQ: ‘Tolerance for Abuses Against LGBTQI+ People Has Now Been Made Explicit Through Legislation’, 1 July 2024, url

  • 954

    IPS, IRAQ: ‘Tolerance for Abuses Against LGBTQI+ People Has Now Been Made Explicit Through Legislation’, 1 July 2024, url; Rudaw, Iraqi president ratifies controversial anti-LGBTQ+ law, 27 June 2024, url

  • 955

    Boutier, I., Iraq's New Anti-LGBTQIA+ Legislation: A Regressive Step in Upholding Human Rights and Dignity, 2024, url, p. 4

  • 956

    HRW, World Report 2025 - Iraq, 16 January 2025, url

  • 957

    Boutier, I., Iraq's New Anti-LGBTQIA+ Legislation: A Regressive Step in Upholding Human Rights and Dignity, 2024, url, p. 4

  • 958

    IPS, IRAQ: ‘Tolerance for Abuses Against LGBTQI+ People Has Now Been Made Explicit Through Legislation’, 1 July 2024, url; IraQueer, Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Iraq, July 2024, url, p. 4; Boutier, I., Iraq's New Anti-LGBTQIA+ Legislation: A Regressive Step in Upholding Human Rights and Dignity, 2024, url, p. 5; HRW, World Report 2025 - Iraq, 16 January 2025, url

  • 959

    IraQueer, Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Iraq, July 2024, url, p. 3; IPS, IRAQ: ‘Tolerance for Abuses Against LGBTQI+ People Has Now Been Made Explicit Through Legislation’, 1 July 2024, url; Rudaw, Iraqi president ratifies controversial anti-LGBTQ+ law, 27 June 2024, url

  • 960

    IPS IRAQ: ‘Tolerance for Abuses Against LGBTQI+ People Has Now Been Made Explicit Through Legislation’, 1 July 2024, url; Outright International, Country overview: Iraq, n.d., url

  • 961

    IraQueer, Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Iraq, July 2024, url, p. 3; IPS, IRAQ: ‘Tolerance for Abuses Against LGBTQI+ People Has Now Been Made Explicit Through Legislation’, 1 July 2024, url; Rudaw, Iraqi president ratifies controversial anti-LGBTQ+ law, 27 June 2024, url; Boutier, I., Iraq's New Anti-LGBTQIA+ Legislation: A Regressive Step in Upholding Human Rights and Dignity, 2024, url, p. 5

  • 962

    Boutier, I., Iraq's New Anti-LGBTQIA+ Legislation: A Regressive Step in Upholding Human Rights and Dignity, 2024, url, p. 4, 5

  • 963

    HRW World Report 2025 - Iraq, 16 January 2025, url

  • 964

    IraQueer, Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Iraq, July 2024, url, p. 3

  • 965

    IPS , IRAQ: ‘Tolerance for Abuses Against LGBTQI+ People Has Now Been Made Explicit Through Legislation’, 1 July 2024, url

  • 966

    Mustafa, B., Gender found Guilty: Anti-Gender Backlash and (Dis)Translation Politics in Iraq. 24 June 2025, url

  • 967

    Mustafa, B., Gender found Guilty: Anti-Gender Backlash and (Dis)Translation Politics in Iraq. 24 June 2025, url

  • 968

    AI, Iraq: Authorities must immediately reverse media ban on the terms “homosexuality” and “gender”, 9 August 2023, url; The New Arab, Iraq bans media from using term ‘homosexuality’, says must use ‘sexual deviance’, 9 August 2023, url

  • 969

    Mustafa, B., Gender found Guilty: Anti-Gender Backlash and (Dis)Translation Politics in Iraq, 24 June 2025, url

  • 970

    DW, Iraqi LGBTQ+ community loses social media safe space, 5 April 2024, url; Freedom House, Freedom on the Net 2024 - Iraq, 16 October 2024, url; HRW, World Report 2025 - Iraq, 16 January 2025, url; IraQueer, Safety and Security Guidelines for LGBT+ in Iraq and Kurdistan, [2025] url, pp. 1, 11- 12

  • 971

    HRW, World Report 2025 - Iraq, 16 January 2025, url

  • 972

    Freedom House, Freedom on the Net 2024 - Iraq, 16 October 2024, url

  • 973

    Freedom House, Freedom on the Net 2024 - Iraq, 16 October 2024, url

  • 974

    IraQueer, Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Iraq, July 2024, url, p. 10

  • 975

    IPS, IRAQ: ‘Tolerance for Abuses Against LGBTQI+ People Has Now Been Made Explicit Through Legislation’, 1 July 2024, url

  • 976

    Outright International, Country overview: Iraq, n.d., url

  • 977

    IPS , IRAQ: ‘Tolerance for Abuses Against LGBTQI+ People Has Now Been Made Explicit Through Legislation’, 1 July 2024, url

  • 978

    Freedom House, Freedom on the Net 2024 - Iraq, 16 October 2024, url; TIMEP , Being Queer in the MENA Region: Guilty Until Proven Innocent, 28 January 2025, url

  • 979

    IraQueer, Safety and Security Guidelines for LGBT+ in Iraq and Kurdistan, 2025 url, pp. 1, 12

  • 980

    Ireland, RDC, COI Query Response - Iraq – Information on access to healthcare, 27 August 2024, url, pp. 2-3

  • 981

    Ireland, RDC , COI Query Response - Iraq – Information on access to healthcare, 27 August 2024, url, pp. 2-3; Boutier, I., Iraq's New Anti-LGBTQIA+ Legislation: A Regressive Step in Upholding Human Rights and Dignity, 2024, url, p. 8

  • 982

    Boutier, I., Iraq's New Anti-LGBTQIA+ Legislation: A Regressive Step in Upholding Human Rights and Dignity, 2024, url, p. 8

  • 983

    Bobseine, H., Senior Iraq researcher and analyst specializing on tribal affairs, Interview, 28-29 October 2024, and email communication, 13 July 2025; Salih, H. M., Honor Killing in Erbil City; Social Factors A Field Study, 5 May 2025, url, p. 256