In the Kurdistan Region, the LGBT+ community faces constant fear of persecution and threats of violence and murder, and activists say the government is part of the problem.
“It feels like nothing has been done, and anything that could be done is usually undone by politicians fueled by hate toward something they do not understand,” Sirwa Salar* told Rudaw English on Monday.
“I do not think you can face this issue systematically unless you are open about it,” she added. In her experience, it is “extremely rare” to have an open discussion about the LGBT+ community.
To stay safe, many, like Balen Kaka*, hide their sexuality.
“Living in fear and hiding can help you avoid a lot of conflict. I have only told one person and they took it well, but generally I just pretend that I am someone else,” Kaka told Rudaw English. “I think the situation is extremely unstable, making it impossible to bring something up that might lead to a big argument where you might put your life at risk.”
“I think awareness must be raised in schools in a professional manner where no one’s beliefs are attacked. We do not want to enforce our idea of freedom on other people, we just deserve to be acknowledged,” he said, adding that he has seen homophobia among circles of people who are considered “educated” in Erbil.
The LGBT+ community is especially fearful after arrests last month in Sulaimani. On April 1, security forces (Asayish) rounded up a group of men in Sarchinar, a neighborhood in the city where people of any sexual orientation can pick up sex workers. The officer who led the operation said they were targeting suspected homosexuals and used derogatory language.
Related: Queer in Kurdistan: LGBT+ community weighed down by societal pressure
“The community feels crippled and has no real hope ever since the latest incident in Sulaimani where they arrested random people under the suspicion of being members of the LGBT+ community,” Hoshang Ibrahim* told Rudaw English.
There are organizations working for the community, though often their efforts go unseen, according to Ibrahim. “A lot has been done, especially by members of the community that work in NGOs and other places of authority, but nothing major for the public image, which is the most important,” they said.
The community is also unable to access vital services, including health. “There are few services available to LGBTQI persons, including psychosocial, mental, or health related services in Iraq and in Kurdistan Region,” human rights activist Bakhan Qadir told Rudaw English.
“Unfortunately, the society does not have awareness and knowledge about different gender identities so they are considered a threat to society. But I believe the culture of rejecting diversity in our society is what creates the problem, not the community themselves,” she added.
Murals meant to encourage coexistence and acceptance of the LGBT+ community in Sulaimani have been repeatedly vandalized after nightfall. Members of the community in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region face persecution, and are subject to arrest, verbal abuse, and even murder. In 2017, at least 220 LGBT+ people were killed in Iraq, according to data from IraQueer.
“KRG [Kurdistan Regional Government] promotes diversity. Unfortunately, that has not translated into the behavior of people and society. Even though LGBTQI people have existed throughout history, it has not been a subject of discussion in Kurdistan Region until recently, thanks to brave activists and organizations. Naturally it takes time for people to realize diversity and accept it,” said Qadir.
Human Rights Watch says it is time for the government to step up to protect the LGBT+ community.
“In Iraq, armed groups have for over a decade gotten away with targeting, torturing and killing LGBT people and those perceived as LGBT, without any accountability or consequence. The state-sponsored rhetoric that these abusive forces are protecting morals and religious traditions is an unabashed strategy to control the bodies and identities of queer and transgender Iraqis,” Rasha Younes, who researches LGBT rights in the Middle East at Human Rights Watch, told Rudaw English on Monday.
“It is time for the Iraqi government to condemn violence against LGBT people, stop these attacks, and preserve innocent lives that continue to be lost with impunity,” she added.
Diplomatic missions in the country have added their voices to the calls to ensure the rights and safety of the LGBT+ community.
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Human rights belong to everyone everywhere, no matter who you are or who you love. Together we can stand side by side, supporting one another,” the Netherlands Embassy in Iraq tweeted on Monday.
The US Consulate General in Erbil also tweeted.
— U.S. Consulate General Erbil (@USConGenErbil) May 17, 2021
Across the border in Iran, rights and safety of the LGBT+ community has been under the spotlight after the recent murder of Alireza Fazeli Monfared, a 20 year old from Ahvaz, Khuzestan province killed on May 4 for identifying as a non-binary gay man. On Monday, Amnesty International called on Tehran to bring to account those responsible for his death and to end criminalization of the community.
“The organization is renewing its calls on the Iranian authorities to repeal laws which criminalize consensual same-sex relations in Iran, including through the application of the death penalty and flogging, and which ban clothing, hairstyles, and other forms of gender expression that do not conform to strict binary gender ‘norms’ enforced by the establishment,” read a statement from the rights watchdog.
“Amnesty International reiterates its serious concerns that these laws legitimize and act as official incitement to or justification for systematic discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals in Iran, including in state custody, on the street, at school and workplace or in the home,” it added.
*Names have been changed to protect their identity
