Claims of anal torture of gay Iraqis “consistent” with human rights violations
A leading LGBT human rights organisation has said that reports of horrific torture of gay Iraqis by militias “are consistent with patterns of human rights violations being reported from within the country.”
The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission was commenting on reports published by Al-Arabiya, a media network based in the United Arab Emirates.
They reported on Monday that they had been told by Iraqi human rights activist Yanar Mohammad:
“Iraqi militias have deployed an unprecedented form of torture against homosexuals by using a very strong glue that will close their anus … an Iranian-manufactured glue that if applied to the skin, sticks to it and can only be removed by surgery.
“After they glue the anuses of homosexuals, they give them a drink that causes diarrhea.
“Since the anus is closed, the diarrhea causes death.
“Videos of this form of torture are being distributed on mobile cellphones in Iraq.”
IGLHRC said it has not verified all of the allegations.
Last week the group sent a letter to the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights, asking her to take specific measures to protect LGBT Iraqis.
IGLHRC and Human Rights Watch have submitted an urgent appeal to the Special Procedures of the United Nations to ask for an investigation.
Earlier this month, two gay men were found dead in the Baghdad Shiite slum of Sadr City following condemnations of homosexuality by a leading local cleric.
Reports suggest a further four were murdered in March after the Shiite cleric Sattar al-Battat allegedly repeatedly condemned homosexuality in Friday prayers.
