Petrelis Files

UN Report Omits Gay Iraqi Deaths;
Doctor Convicted Over Gay Health Article

A new United Nations human rights report for Iraq for the last half of 2008 has just been published, and Larry Kaplow of Newsweek has pored over the document and made note of what was omitted and included related to LGBT persons:

It made no mention of killings of gay Iraqis, which have been widely reported in the media, but it did criticize the jailing in Kurdistan of a doctor who had published an article about health issues related to gay sex.

I'm not sure if the slayings of LGBT Iraqis was receiving extensive media attention last year, but regardless of that point, kudos to Newsweek for reporting the omission.

Let's also credit Kaplow for his citation regarding the doctor convicted of the crime of publishing a health article to help gay males.

Here's what the UN report stated, on page 20:

Medical doctor and freelance journalist Adel Hussein was sentenced to six months in prison in Erbil on 24 November for having written an article about sexual health for homosexuals that was published in April 2007. The court had not applied the new journalism law but a provision in the 1969 Iraqi penal code on offending “public decency” thus denying the defendant protected status under the new law.

And speaking of LGBT Iraqis, the leader of exile efforts on behalf of gays in Baghdad, Ali Hili of London, is sending around this important announcement for a vigil in Brighton, England, tomorrow:

Dear Friends and supporters of Iraqi Lgbt,

It is truly moving to receive these messages of support, more important they are being reported back to LGBT people Iraq who deeply appreciate your concern and loving thoughts.

If you are in Brighton tomrrow Friday 1st May, do join us at the Pavilion at 9pm (southern gate) and light a candle for those LGBT people hunted down and murdered in homophobically inspired attacks. IF not don't let that stop you from lighting a candle or sparing a few moments of your time to wish them love and strength in their appalling ordeal

We are moving heaven and earth to try to help them, we need offers of help from graphic designers who can render a hi-res image of the logo, we also need a web designer who knows about cascaded style sheets. If you know anyone with these skills who might be prepared to donate some time to help get us up and running it would be FAB!

Things are definitely starting to shift and important things are happening but we hope you understand we can't tell you because literally lives are at stake. We are finalising the text of a PM petition and will let you have the link as soon as it is up and running.

Do think about joining the SOS Iraqi LGBT facebook group and keeping in touch with developments.

www.iraqilgbt.org.uk http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=187327470044

Best wishes
Ali

Ali Hili - Iraqi Lgbt
22 Notting Hill Gate
Unit # 111
London , W11 3JE
United Kingdom
Mob: ++44 798 1959 453
Website : http://iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com/