Petrelis Files

HRW's Gay Iraq Report Comes Out Aug 17;
Blade Probes Beheading Photos

Last month Scott Long, Human Rights Watch's director of LGBT programs, held a briefing in NYC regarding his recent visit to Baghdad to investigate the torture and killing of gay Iraqis. The briefing had a tele-conference component, and I was able to listen in.

I followed up with a question to him about when he would release his report, and he replied:

We are aiming for the week of August 10 in Baghdad but are still trying to find a press conference site.

Yesterday, Scott informed me the report will come out on August 17, but provided no location or further details. I'm sure the HRW communications department will keep us all informed as we get closer to the publication date.

In other gay Iraqi news, the Washington Blade last week reported on the July 24 fundraiser at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters in DC, at which a gay Iraqi refugee who uses the alias "Hussam" showed gruesome photos he alleged were of gays killed by US armed forces.

But that ethically-sound piece of reporting wasn't the only thing in the Blade last week on the allegations by Hussam, who has not provided the paper with copies of the photos or authenticated them. There was also an editorial summarizing the troubling situation:

Hussam claimed that he possessed an image of those same men dead on the ground after being executed by the U.S. service members in the photo. [...] We have tried multiple times since the event to reach Hussam and to obtain copies of his photos, but he is not returning phone calls. ...

THERE APPEAR TO be two possible explanations for what happened last week. First, the images are authentic and U.S. service members have targeted Iraqi gays for execution. This would constitute a violation of international law and necessitate a full military investigation with the harshest of penalties for anyone convicted of involvement. Or second, that the images are a hoax, used to manipulate an audience of financial donors. If the images are fakes or were in any way misrepresented, then the presenters and organizers are spreading anti-American propaganda and should be held accountable.

You'll get no argument from me about the need for accountability in this mess. The Blade today has posted an important update on this controversy:

The U.S. military is investigating claims that U.S. service members were involved in committing atrocities against gays in Iraq, although at least one activist is skeptical about the veracity of the allegations.

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command, the service’s primary criminal investigative organization, is looking into the allegations, which were first reported by the Blade last week. An investigator contacted the Blade seeking information on the story. ...

The longest-serving gay member of Congress also has pledged to investigate. Harry Gural, a spokesperson for Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), said the congressman is “concerned” about the allegations and “the charge is serious enough that he’s going to urge a full investigation.”

I've been in touch with Hussam, have also asked for him for copies of the pictures, proof of his claims on the images and other related gay Iraqi matter he has communicated with me about, and I'm sorry to report I have received nothing of substance from him allaying my suspicions.

After months of attempting to not only get a proper fiscal report from Ali Hili and Iraqi LGBT in London, but to also verify some of his torture claims, and getting quite a run-around, I'm very disappointed that Hussam engages in similar obfuscating ways.

There is absolutely no need for Hili and Hussam to exaggerate the atrocities being suffered by LGBT citizens of Iraq. Non-governmental organizations and the media have independently verified gays are facing brutality and murder, providing advocates with ample evidence, which is quite enough to use as the foundation for activism.

This may sound incredibly arrogant of me to say, but I don't believe any LGBT person in Iraq or living as a refugee is in any way served by allegations of brutality that can't be proved.

Adding a touch of the pot calling the kettle black, Hili has weighed in with comments to the Blade:

He said in an e-mail that until he sees real evidence that U.S. service members are committing these atrocities, he believes the claims to be “false and untrue.”

“You have no idea how far can people go and what length to lie, to get money or asylum,” he said. “I have told these people over and over that they will not only damage their situation but they are doing great damages to our movement in Iraq by lying to benefit for only themselves.” ...

Hili added that the worst he’s heard about anti-gay activity from U.S. soldiers in Iraq is name-calling in some circumstances. He said people who are supporting Hussam’s allegations are “just using the story to raise funds for their own benefit.”

I look forward to the HRW report and the hard, independently verified evidence I expect to find in it. And let us all be grateful the Blade editors and reporters are professionals, doing an exemplary job.