Iraq's Gay Community and 'Emo' Youths Fear Abuse, Violence, and Death

March 14, 2012 from Al Arabiya

WARNING: Graphic Content. In Iraq, the gay community has been living in fear for years, as religious militia maintain control of the streets in the sectarian warfare that followed the US-led invasion in 2003. Hurriya, a gay activist, says in the past two months the killings have increased and are the worst he has seen, with men murdered for their homosexuality or for appearing effeminate -- particularly those dressed as "emo," a uniquely Western-influenced style, which for some in Iraq is associated with homosexuality.

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Iraq

Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in Western Asia encompassing the Mesopotamian alluvial plain, the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, and the eastern part of the Syrian Desert. Iraq borders Syria to the northwest, Turkey to the north, Iran to the... Explore this topic

Gay community

The LGBT community, sometimes known as the gay community, is a loosely defined grouping of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and LGBT-supportive people, organizations, and subcultures, united by a common culture and civil rights movements. These communities generally cel... Explore this topic

Emo

Emo is a style of rock music characterized by melodic musicianship and expressive, often confessional lyrics. It originated in the mid-1980s hardcore punk movement of Washington, D.C., where it was known as "emotional hardcore" or "emocore" and pioneered by bands such as Rites... Explore this topic

Murder

Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide. As the loss of a human being inflicts enormous grief upon the individuals close to the victim, and the commi... Explore this topic

Shia Islam

The Shia represent the largest schismatic sect in Islam, accounting for 10-20% of the world's normative body of Muslims. Adherents of Shia Islam are called Shi'ites or Shias. "Shia" is the short form of the historic phrase Shīʻatul ʻAlī, meaning "followers", "faction", or "par... Explore this topic

Hate crime

In both crime and law, hate crimes occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group. Examples of such groups include but are not limited to: racial group, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or gender identity. ... Explore this topic

Homosexuality

Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual activity between members of the same sex or gender. As an orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectionate, or romantic attractions" primarily or ex... Explore this topic

Sadr City

Sadr City formerly known as Saddam City is a suburb district of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. It was built in 1959 by Prime Minister Abdul Karim Qassim and later unofficially renamed Sadr City after Shia leader Mohammad Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr. Sadr City is one of nine administrat... Explore this topic

Baghdad

Bagdad ist die Hauptstadt des Irak und des gleichnamigen Gouvernements. Sie ist mit 5,4 Millionen Einwohnern eine der größten Städte im Nahen Osten. In der Metropolregion, die weit über die Grenzen des Gouvernements hinausreicht, leben 11,8 Millionen Menschen, was etwa 40 Proz... Explore this topic

Sadrist Movement

The Sadrist Movement is an Iraqi Islamist national movement led by Muqtada al-Sadr. The movement draws wide support from across Iraqi society and especially from the Shi'a poor in the country. The most important person in setting the goals and the philosophy of the movement wa... Explore this topic

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