New Iraqi bill punishes same-sex relationship with 15-year jail term

A bill that could result in up to 15 years in prison for same-sex relationships was approved by the Iraqi parliament on Saturday. 

A 1988 anti-prostitution statute will also be amended to condemn transgender individuals to three years in prison. 

The legislation was adopted during a session when 170 out of 329 lawmakers attended. 

In a prior draft, same-sex relationships were to be punished with death. 

However, the new rules give judges the authority to sentence defendants to anywhere from 10 to 15 years in jail. 

In addition, they established a minimum seven-year prison sentence for “promoting” same-sex relationships and a one-to-three-year sentence for men who “intentionally” behave like women. 

“Biological sex change based on personal desire and inclination” is now illegal under the new statute, a crime that punishes trans people and doctors who perform gender reassignment surgery with up to three years in prison. 

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.