Iraq: Impunity for Violence Against LGBT People

An illustration of security forces confronting a woman with short hair
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
An illustration of a man using a dating app on his phone
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
Armed men push a man into a vehicle
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
A man sits in a jail cell
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
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