Mariam, a 21-year-old lesbian woman from Baghdad, is one of many LGBT Iraqis who said they were harassed at checkpoints by security forces due to their appearance.
© 2022 John Holmes for Human Rights Watch
Zoran, a 25-year-old gay man from Sulaymaniyah, said he was sexually assaulted by two members of the Asayish while he was on a date with a man who tricked him after they met on a same-sex dating application.
© 2022 John Holmes for Human Rights Watch
Laith, a 27-year-old gay man from Baghdad, said he watched as armed group members abducted his boyfriend from his house, tortured and killed him.
© 2022 John Holmes for Human Rights Watch
Karim, an 18-year-old gay man from Najaf, said he was 17 when police in Baghdad arrested him, verbally and physically abused him, sexually harassed him, and subjected him to a forced anal exam.
© 2022 John Holmes for Human Rights Watch