Iraqi parliament gears up for vote on criminalising homosexuality bill

The Iraqi parliament's legal committee had concluded discussions on a controversial bill that imposes the death penalty or life imprisonment for same-sex relationships, and the bill is ready for voting on, an Iraqi lawmaker to The New Arab on Tuesday.

The Iraqi parliament, on Monday, postponed the vote on a bill advocating for the death penalty or life imprisonment for same-sex relationships. This decision drew criticism from Western diplomats, who cautioned against potential repercussions on Iraq's political and economic ties if the bill were to be approved.

"The legal committee, which had no conflicts with the bill, has concluded discussions on it. We are waiting for the parliament's presidency to include it in the agenda of the parliament's future sessions," Dara Sekaniani, a lawmaker from the Kurdistan Islamic Union's bloc and member of the parliament's legal committee, told TNA.

He also clarified that the bill also criminalises prostitution, sexual brokerage, and wife-swapping, and each offence in the bill has its definition and punishment, which are fines, imprisonment, and life sentences.

The lawmaker last year told TNA that as per the proposals submitted for amending the law, homosexual individuals could be sentenced to the death penalty, a life sentence in jail, a significant fine or imprisonment for up to five years.

The bill was presented by the assembly's legal committee last August to amend Iraq's penal code 8 of 1988, which bans prostitution, to criminalise homosexual relations in the country.

Iraq's penal code lacks specific laws on homosexuality, whether to either punish or give clear rights, and often the LGBT+ community in Iraq is prosecuted under the anti-prostitution law and article 393 of the Iraqi penal code of 1969, which strictly outlaws rape or sodomy.

 The bill was listed as the second item on the agenda during Monday's parliamentary session. However, the acting speaker of parliament, Muhsin al-Mandalawi, later delayed voting on the bill.

According to Reuters, rights groups and Western diplomats expressed concern over the proposed legislation, citing its potential to harm Iraq's international standing. The bill also prohibits the promotion of homosexuality, punishable by a minimum of seven years in prison.

Diplomats from Western nations have urged Iraqi authorities not to proceed with the bill, citing human rights concerns and the potential strain it could place on diplomatic and trade relations. They emphasised the significant repercussions for bilateral cooperation if the law is enacted.

The parliamentary vote coincided with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's meeting with US President Joe Biden in Washington, which was expected to focus on increasing US investment in Iraq.

The bill in Iraq was compared to Uganda, where the enactment of a similar law led to sanctions from international institutions and travel restrictions imposed by the United States against Ugandan officials.