128 Gay men in Iraq Slated for Execution sign petition...

[BrendaQG]

DON'T, because this is based on a false hood. See here.

Confusion grows over reports of gay executions in Iraq, By Jessica Geen • April 9, 2009 - 14:24, Pink News UK (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11959.html)

"Human rights organisations are working to establish whether a number of men have been executed in Iraq for being gay.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Iraq but is seen as a taboo. Last week, six gay men were shot and killed in the Baghdad Shiite slum of Sadr City.

Amnesty International reported in early March that Iraqi authorities were planning to execute 128 unnamed prisoners in the following days.

Last week, this claim was repeated by London-based group Iraqi LGBT who said five gay men were among the 128.

Some news providers are now reporting that all 128 men are gay and a petition citing this figure is circulating. However, Ali Hili of Iraqi LGBT said reports of all 128 men being gay were false. He said: "That's a mistake. It appears to have been spread around by bloggers. We never said they were all gay.

He added: "We are still trying to get more information inside Iraq but it is very difficult. The issue is very sensitive. "We have had confirmation from two police officers. We are only aware of five men who are to be executed for homosexuality although we have heard that 20 were detained."

Amnesty International has not yet been able to confirm if the executions, which were originally scheduled for last month, have taken place or whether the men were to be executed for homosexuality.

Human Rights Watch is also trying to confirm what has happened.

Advocacy director at the organisation, Boris Dittrich, said he was "very concerned" about the reports. He said: "We are working on this and assessing the situation. We are speaking to witnesses and are very busy calling people in Iraq. We are also in contact with embassies in Iraq."

Last week, Mr Hili released a letter to UK Gay News which he said was from a member of Iraqi-LGBT in Baghdad. The sender said he was to be executed shortly for being a member of the group and pleaded for help. The letter was translated from Arabic into English and its authenticity could not be verified as the name and address on it had been removed.

A spokesperson for the US State Department told Boston EDGE that the story has no merit. "Homosexuality is not a crime in Iraq," said John Fleming, the public affairs officer for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. "The individuals condemned to death in Iraq have been convicted of violent crimes, including murder, terrorism, insurgency and kidnapping." "None were convicted of the ’crime’ of being homosexual," Fleming said. "In fact, it’s immaterial to Iraqis. "Frankly, there are other issues they’re concerned about like basic survival, getting food and water. It’s a luxury for the average Iraqi to worry about homosexuality."(Emphasis added by me)"

Don't believe the hype people.

[phobun]

DON'T, because this is based on a false hood. See here.

Confusion grows over reports of gay executions in Iraq, By Jessica Geen • April 9, 2009 - 14:24, Pink News UK (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11959.html)

"Human rights organisations are working to establish whether a number of men have been executed in Iraq for being gay.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Iraq but is seen as a taboo. Last week, six gay men were shot and killed in the Baghdad Shiite slum of Sadr City.

Amnesty International reported in early March that Iraqi authorities were planning to execute 128 unnamed prisoners in the following days.

Last week, this claim was repeated by London-based group Iraqi LGBT who said five gay men were among the 128.

Some news providers are now reporting that all 128 men are gay and a petition citing this figure is circulating. However, Ali Hili of Iraqi LGBT said reports of all 128 men being gay were false. He said: "That's a mistake. It appears to have been spread around by bloggers. We never said they were all gay.

He added: "We are still trying to get more information inside Iraq but it is very difficult. The issue is very sensitive. "We have had confirmation from two police officers. We are only aware of five men who are to be executed for homosexuality although we have heard that 20 were detained."

Amnesty International has not yet been able to confirm if the executions, which were originally scheduled for last month, have taken place or whether the men were to be executed for homosexuality.

Human Rights Watch is also trying to confirm what has happened.

Advocacy director at the organisation, Boris Dittrich, said he was "very concerned" about the reports. He said: "We are working on this and assessing the situation. We are speaking to witnesses and are very busy calling people in Iraq. We are also in contact with embassies in Iraq."

Last week, Mr Hili released a letter to UK Gay News which he said was from a member of Iraqi-LGBT in Baghdad. The sender said he was to be executed shortly for being a member of the group and pleaded for help. The letter was translated from Arabic into English and its authenticity could not be verified as the name and address on it had been removed.

A spokesperson for the US State Department told Boston EDGE that the story has no merit. "Homosexuality is not a crime in Iraq," said John Fleming, the public affairs officer for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. "The individuals condemned to death in Iraq have been convicted of violent crimes, including murder, terrorism, insurgency and kidnapping." "None were convicted of the ’crime’ of being homosexual," Fleming said. "In fact, it’s immaterial to Iraqis. "Frankly, there are other issues they’re concerned about like basic survival, getting food and water. It’s a luxury for the average Iraqi to worry about homosexuality."(Emphasis added by me)"

Don't believe the hype people.

Islam is a very intolerant religion.

[JamesHunt]

Islam is a very intolerant religion.

Iran has no issues with trannys

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transsexuality_in_Iran

[phobun]

Islam is a very intolerant religion.

Iran has no issues with trannys

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transsexuality_in_Iran

There are no gays in Iran, probably because they ensure it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-sC26wpUGQ

[phobun]

From CBC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu_tiFZjNQY

[russtafa]

what a lovely bunch of dirty towel heads and still the bleeding hearts support them .the west so weak and gutless there should be no comunication or travel,imigration with them they dont exist or they shouldnt exist

[thx1138]

There are those here in the US who would gladly execute gays if they got their hands on the levers of power.

[phobun]

There are those here in the US who would gladly execute gays if they got their hands on the levers of power.
Get some perspective... after seeing evidence of true harrassment and danger to gays in Iran, all you can do is dwell on your own paranoia and self-concern? Why don't you and El Nino go cuddle and soothe each other's neuroses... there will be a few voices in the room, but I'm sure you'll bring your fair share.

[T Oracle]

DON'T, because this is based on a false hood. See here.

Confusion grows over reports of gay executions in Iraq, By Jessica Geen • April 9, 2009 - 14:24, Pink News UK (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11959.html)

"Human rights organisations are working to establish whether a number of men have been executed in Iraq for being gay.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Iraq but is seen as a taboo. Last week, six gay men were shot and killed in the Baghdad Shiite slum of Sadr City.

Amnesty International reported in early March that Iraqi authorities were planning to execute 128 unnamed prisoners in the following days.

Last week, this claim was repeated by London-based group Iraqi LGBT who said five gay men were among the 128.

Some news providers are now reporting that all 128 men are gay and a petition citing this figure is circulating. However, Ali Hili of Iraqi LGBT said reports of all 128 men being gay were false. He said: "That's a mistake. It appears to have been spread around by bloggers. We never said they were all gay.

He added: "We are still trying to get more information inside Iraq but it is very difficult. The issue is very sensitive. "We have had confirmation from two police officers. We are only aware of five men who are to be executed for homosexuality although we have heard that 20 were detained."

Amnesty International has not yet been able to confirm if the executions, which were originally scheduled for last month, have taken place or whether the men were to be executed for homosexuality.

Human Rights Watch is also trying to confirm what has happened.

Advocacy director at the organisation, Boris Dittrich, said he was "very concerned" about the reports. He said: "We are working on this and assessing the situation. We are speaking to witnesses and are very busy calling people in Iraq. We are also in contact with embassies in Iraq."

Last week, Mr Hili released a letter to UK Gay News which he said was from a member of Iraqi-LGBT in Baghdad. The sender said he was to be executed shortly for being a member of the group and pleaded for help. The letter was translated from Arabic into English and its authenticity could not be verified as the name and address on it had been removed.

A spokesperson for the US State Department told Boston EDGE that the story has no merit. "Homosexuality is not a crime in Iraq," said John Fleming, the public affairs officer for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. "The individuals condemned to death in Iraq have been convicted of violent crimes, including murder, terrorism, insurgency and kidnapping." "None were convicted of the ’crime’ of being homosexual," Fleming said. "In fact, it’s immaterial to Iraqis. "Frankly, there are other issues they’re concerned about like basic survival, getting food and water. It’s a luxury for the average Iraqi to worry about homosexuality."(Emphasis added by me)"

Don't believe the hype people.

Thanks for posting this Brenda.

I saw the original 'sign the petition' request and quickly worked out that someone had mixed '128 to be executed' with a vague connection to 'gay' to conclude that Iraq authorities were on a gay extermination drive.

It's a shame that gay sites muddy the water by posting propaganda like this. I'm sure the reality is bad enough, but when you layer on this sort of crap, the real truth gets hidden.

Again, thanks for posting!

[russtafa]

musslims in the philippines butcher and rape christian villages,and in indonesia any place where they are theres violence and terror

[BrendaQG]

@ T Oracle.

That's because in the gay community it is socially acceptable to hate muslims. The justification being that supposedly mulims all hate gays'. That's false, I am not the only LGBT person who is muslim who can tell you that. There are some homophobic muslims, but no more than there are homophobic american atheist.

HA used to be worse than it is now. When I first came there would be a thread about the cost of a big mac...and somehow that would turn into islam bashing.

[phobun]

There are some homophobic muslims, but no more than there are homophobic american atheist.

You are so out of touch with reality it is unreal.

[BrendaQG]

No out of touch with reality is thinking that a persons homo or trans phobia has anything to do with religion, or thinking this is a psych disorder.....

Those are all just excuses, convienient, things to hide behind so that they feel like less of an asshole for being a biggot. the LGBT community is no better sometimes.