In Iraq, same-sex relationships can lead to up to 15 years in prison

The Iraqi parliament has passed a bill amending the 1988 anti-prostitution law. According to him , same-sex relationships are up to 15 years , Promoting LGBT activities is punishable by up to 7 years in prison . The new law also sets penalties for transgender people and doctors who perform such surgery.

The Iraqi parliament passed a bill on April 27 amending the 1988 anti-prostitution law, CNN reports. According to the new law, same-sex relations are punishable by up to 15 years, and promotion of LGBT activities by up to 7 years.

The new law also imposes prison sentences of up to 3 years for transgender people and doctors who perform sex-reassignment surgery, except in cases of medical intervention to "treat birth defects to confirm a person's sex," according to the court's ruling.

The sentences are less than those sought by independent Iraqi lawmaker Raad al-Maliki, who introduced the bill in August 2023. The deputy proposed to introduce punishment in the form of life imprisonment and death penalty for same-sex couples.

However, 170 of the 329 MPs who attended Saturday's parliamentary session voted in favor of the leniency bill.

Mohsen Al-Mandalavi, Acting Speaker of Parliament, said the new law aims to protect the "moral foundations" of society.