What's life like for LGBTQ people in Iraq?
Let's take a look at some of the key equality indicators.
What's life like for LGBTQ people in Iraq? Let's take a look at some of the key equality indicators.
Is homosexuality legal in Iraq?
No. The laws were strengthened in 2024 to explicitly criminalise homosexuality.
Are there anti-discrimination protections in place for LGBTQ people in Iraq?
No. There are no protections in place.
Is there Marriage Equality in Iraq?
No. There is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships.
What's life like for LGBTQ people in Iraq?
Iraq is a socially conservative country with a strong religious influence.
LGBTQ people are forced to conceal their identities.
What's the history of gay sex in Iraq?
In the ancient Assyrian society, there is evidence that it was socially acceptable for men to visit male prostitutes and have sex with other men, although taking the submissive role was probably seen negatively depending on your social standing.
Islam became the major religion in the region following the first Arab conquest of the region in the 7th century. Despite a perceived prohibition of homosexuality, evidence exists of the acceptance of sex between men.
In the early Safavid era (1501–1723), male houses of prostitution were legally recognised and paid taxes to the government.
In 1858, the Ottoman empire abolished its sodomy laws. However, after WWI British law was imposed which included a ban on homosexuality.
The strengthening of Islamic law in the subsequent decades has heightened the state-sanctioned persecution of LGBTQ people.
