On Saturday, the Iraqi Parliament voted for amendments to the country’s anti-prostitution law that will punish homosexuality in Iraq with in some cases draconian sentences. The German Government categorically opposes this new legislation.

Should it take effect, severe human rights violations would be officially legitimised. This would contravene Iraq’s legal obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and is a breach of universal human rights to which all human beings are entitled, including queer people in Iraq. I call on the legislators in Iraq not to proceed with this law. The penalties that it sets out pose a danger to those groups that are already the most vulnerable within Iraqi society.

All people are entitled to love whomever they want. Germany will continue to urge the Iraqi Government to uphold the dignity and human rights of all individuals, irrespective of their gender and sexual orientation, and will continue to speak out on human rights.