Gay Iraqis Facing Horrific Torture

Over the past few weeks, news reports have surfaced about a rise in attacks and killings of gays throughout Iraq, where men—both professed and allegedly gay—are being targeted and harassed. But now there's a shocking new story that the men are being tortured to death in a most vicious way: by having their anuses glued shut and then are forced to consume a beverage that causes diarrhea, resulting in death. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) translated a report that appeared on the Arabic-language news station Alarabiya, which said:

"A prominent Iraqi human rights activist says that Iraqi militia have deployed a painful form of torture against homosexuals by closing their anuses using 'Iranian gum.' ... Yina Mohammad told Alarabiya.net that, 'Iraqi militias have deployed an unprecedented form of torture against homosexuals by using a very strong glue that will close their anus.' According to her, the new substance 'is known as the American hum, which is an Iranian-manufactured glue that if applied to the skin, sticks to it and can only be removed by surgery. After they glue the anuses of homosexuals, they give them a drink that causes diarrhea. Since the anus is closed, the diarrhea causes death. Videos of this form of torture are being distributed on mobile cellphones in Iraq.'

According to this human rights activist, for the past 3 weeks a crackdown on homosexuals has been going on based on a religious decree that demands their death; dozens have been targeted. She says that the persecution of homosexuals is not confined to the Shiite clerics. Some Sunni leaders have also declared the death penalty for sodomy on satellite channels."

Gays in many parts of the world face persecution, but this is just plain horrific. How can a society, especially one in which Muslim leaders claim that Islam allegedly doesn't preach violence, allow this to occur? How can world leaders stand by and not put an end to this targeted abuse?

The news that gay people are being attacked doesn't come as a surprise; the Muslim world is vocally anti-gay (the claim by Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that his country didn't have any gay people living there was absurd). Sure, many will say that there are bigger issues we have to deal with, but if we can't keep innocent people safe in their own homes, how can we call ourselves civil and human?

Obviously people are abused all over the world, but when something as shocking as this surfaces, the senseless abuse needs to be squashed. What sort of pain must these men endure? And how long does their torture exist before they're spared with death?

The IGLHRC sent a letter to Iraqi Minister of Human Rights, Wijdan Salim, urging her to take action to protect her country's LGBT community. With Iraq's current unrest, it's unlikely anything will happen to protect these people. Hopefully they will be given asylum to leave their country.

(Image courtesy of Getty)

Comments

[Sargon Bighorn]

Fight the push by Radical Religious Extremists in America to make Gay Citizens outlaws or YOU TOO could be the victim of "Religious Law".

[Obama]

The coalition removed a regime that was responsible for the deaths of 2 MILLION people, more homosexuals died because they were Kurds or Shia than for being Gay.

[orbud]

Now that is really perverted! Where in the Koran does it prescribe that torture?

[Demetrii]

That's disgusting. I feel sick.

[quiet_qT_boy]

This sounds an awful lot like the happenings in Nazi Death Camps that housed homosexuals, except there was no glue and diarrhea involved. . . it was forcing things to go inside that tortured them, not forcing things to stay inside. . .

[ScorpioRising1977]

This just makes my blood run cold.

[GreatGayEntertainmentStore]

Very sad!

[tyler]

I agree with american justice....nuke the middle east. They're a bunch of religious nutcases.
I read something on a Gaydar Austrailia profile recently: "Science flies a man to the moon...religion flies planes into buildings."

[Garth]

The Koran and the Bible are all corrupt copies writtin and interpreted by men. Every traslation gets more corrupt every time it's done and then that translator puts his own slant on it.
Being of Greek heritage, I know how language is curupted because in many many Greek words, there is no English traslation. Stupidity goes on an on....None of the great books can be followed as the law, if the world could use common sense, then horrors like this would not happen.
I think you should pick out all the good of the works and forget all the hate and killing, it's much more sane.

[CharlietheUnicorn]

If you nuked the Middle East, you'd also kill all the homosexuals currently in the region, Mr. Tyler.

[ron andrews]

This is so disgusting! We as a gay community need to get over being gentle and politically correct when we deal with people/situations that work against us as human beings. Listening to a few people today who were bothered with the "words" that Perez Hilton used in his angry response towards Miss CA. I realized that we need to be angry and express that anger when people spread hate with their "opinions." She was wrong and people need to call her out on it just as we need to call out our elected officials on these issues of torture! We need to speak out if we're to survive.

[Roger]

I don't know what to say. It goes beyond the most horrid thing I can think of. I only know that if the past is any indication the future will be vindication. Not that this helps those that suffer now.

[beefnotfish]

Well, We nuked Japan and some American prisoners of war died in the blast... BUT The war ended less than a week later...

[zarxo]

Eric Holder needs to have manufacturers of this glue and medicine or its elements removed from Iraq's import list. There are other drugs or luxuries that the Iraqis love--to enjoy.

Obama is pro-technology, where are they buying these phones and the services?

Hum--but don't pi$$ off the shareholders.

[zarxo]

--what Iraq is doing is no different than what Hitler did. Am I right?

These experiments, so what's it going to take for invasion and devistation--to show the world that Human Rights is a Universal Issue, not a Western philsophy.

On TV woman are beat for no reason.
--and now successions of vids with men's anuses glued shut.

What defense does the Iraq President bring? What did Hitler bring to his defense--was not Hitler supported by a cause of morality?

--heck even Hitler used "men" for community service to build the "racetrack."

--and gay's are not a U.S. protected group?!--How much more proof do you need?

Maybe Obama will be like Roosevelt to the Jews or the Poles--if you ignore it, and the media listens--it will go away, like the blacks.

[Executordl]

I feel completely disgusted by these...i feel the entire middle east should be nuked off the face of the earth...the only thing that comes out of there is death, corruption, terrorism...what good has it done?

[Michael]

For millions of Americans the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is a religious crusade. Born-again conservative nutcases would like nothing better than to destroy or convert (or both) the Muslims. So, "Christian" nutbars are just as reprehensible as "Muslim" nutbars. Both would be only too happy to eradicate homosexuals. Which is all by way of saying: Don't expect Obama's team to say anything to protect gays in Iraq. They don't want to further piss off the Christian Right-wing at home.

[butterflyboy]

That's so terrible, it makes me so angry that I want to puke. The scary thing is that there are millions of religious extremists right here in the USA who wish that was happening right here at home.
This is a perfect example of how deluded these religious people are.

[asehtrepe]

We need another underground railroad. Provide asylum for these persecuted people in the U.S.

[oldkingtroll]

I, for one, plan to e-mail my federal representatives -- and few who are out and gay (e.g., Baldwin and Frank) -- to demand that the U.S. look into this and grant asylum for religious persecution to Iraqi gays. After all, they are being persecuted for religious reasons.

[TheLordofWales]

I'm with asehtrepe!
That was what I thought when I saw this: Underground Railroad.

In countries like the USA, which are more capitalistic, the solution is stay, band together, make progressive political change.
40 years ago in the USA homosexuality was a mental disorder. Today we're arguing over the semantics of marriage. That's progress.

However, in religiously/dogmatically dominated regions, it's impractical to have social organizations say "Now you guys need to stop this!"

Get the affected people OUT. It all must happen underground. Have them start lives somewhere outside these environments.

[Robert]

What kind of beast is the human, where it can hate and kill another in a way an "animal" wouldn't.

Is there a way for us to host them?

[Laun]

Gay or Not, I am sick of all the killing.

[Andru Nguyen]

You know what the world is starting another war... Its between the gay community and everyone else... Whether its gay marriage, gay rights, WHY CAN"T THEY ALL SEE, Were part of the human race. You dont have to except us BUT YOU WILL respect us. Reading things like this really drains my "energy".... We are not the ENEMY!!!! Hate is the enemy, So get a hold on it Before it Kills us all!!!!!

[Benjamoon von Schwulemann]

Religion is madness. No one can be free until the world is free of religion...all religion.

[David]

You can't be gay without being liberal, and you can't be liberal without supporting the "underdogs" in the Mid East. MM cheered the Iraqi insurgents, too many Americans want to throw Israel under the bus, and Queers For Palestine march in every parade in SF.

We gays do not do ourselves any favors by siding with MidEast Muslims against either the US or Israel. Their cause has nothing at all in common with our cause--unless our cause is anti-American, which I hope it is not.

[The Truth]

Ever heard of dual sourcing?

According to the story, one person said this is happening. One person.

Even the National Enquirer requires two or more sources before they run with something.

Is this really happening? Maybe so, but if it's so prevalent why aren't we hearing it from more than one first-hand source other than Yina Mohammed, the self-declared activist? Has she even seen it happen or is she just taking someone else's word for it?

[tyguy0268]

It's disturbing that a group of people who prides in a religion that teaches love and togetherness would do such a thing. These people are following their faith so blindly that they fail to see that the devil has put on Muhammad's clothing. The dark ages has never cease to exist in the Middle East. This region has been plagued by war, corruption, greed, hostility, and a lack of a peaceful future. I'm not surprise as to why there are so much misconceptions of the Islamic world.

[Trevor]

The Koran itself only has one reference to homosexuality, and that's the story of Lot, which is very similar to the one in the Christian Bible. Some people interpret this story to be a prohibition of sodomy, but others interpret it as a prohibition of rape, as the people of Lot forced themselves on their victims. I think we need to take a step back from comments like "nuke the Middle East" and realize that most Muslims and Middle Eastern people are simply not torturing gay men. This does happen, and absolutely it is a terrible thing. But we need to reexamine the premise that Islam is necessarily an enemy to be vanquished.

[DrRJohnsonPhD]

The heinous act of torture as described in this article incites my anger at religious groups who torture and murder people who are different from what they believe should be the religious right. And we are supporting this country? Our soldiers and troops are being killed in support of this type of behavior? Doesn't the US government have any responsibility to basic human rights to prevent this? How sad! If this act is being conducted by military we have trained, what does that say about our military troops and the training taking place?

[Peter]

I just find it extremely disturbing that this society goes about preaching Islam and how it is a religion of peace, yet they use it as an excuse to torture human beings. They're total hypocrites.

[Queer-Doh]

once again religion and stupidity cause death for something uncontrolable. this f**king pisses me off. I'm in a middle eastern histor and politics class and they've done stupid shit since the beginning of their time.

[DOG]

It seems like this is a recycled story. Remember the one from the other week.

When are we going to get stories on the gays who are tortured and murdered here in the US? And what about the authorities who look the other way when it happens?

Oh, that's right: We're a civilized nation/We don't torture. (Hmmm....sounds like a line in a song by Au Pairs from 1981. Still relevent after all these years.)

[shayne chester]

Perhaps it should also be noted that homosexuality WAS NOT illegal under Saddam Hussein until 2001 - right before the US invasion. Homosexuals WERE NOT prosecuted under the Hussein government. The US invasion, which has emboldened religous extremists, has increased persecution of gays.

Ali Hili is a gay Iraqi who fled to London 3 years ago. “Are gay people in the United States, Britain and Australia aware of what their governments have done to our country?” writes Ali Hili on his group’s blog, Iraqi LGBT (iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com). “Their armies invaded and occupied our land, destroyed the infrastructure of government, and created the chaos and lawlessness that has allowed religious fundamentalism to flourish and to terrorize women and gay people.”

[Stranger]

Stop blaming Christians for hate, if they really are Christians they wouldn't be torturing or killing anyone. Hating Christians or miss CA because they have different world view is just as wrong and is hypocritical.

Why are you so angry Mr. Perez Hilton at miss CA? Do you think the world revolves around you so much that you feel threatened by her words? Most gays don't feel they had a choice of lifestyle and are upset that str8 people proudly claim to choose theirs. Stop the anger that invites str8 people to say you're even more deranged than they already believe you to be.

As far as the killing going on, remember that Christian nations are more lenient toward gays than any other culture. From a gay perspective, going into Iraq was a good thing because gays in Iraq will have more freedom now than all the other countries around. They don't have as much freedom as outside the Middle East but you have to start someplace.

[Disgusted]

This report made me sick and sad and totally dissolutioned with what the world has become. To hear the president of Iran call for the eradication of Israel, to hear that the government of Irag says nothing about this atrocity against helpless gays,,,,,This is outrageous. We must open our country to these gay people NOW! That is something positive we can do to prevent further suffering....suffering for what....for being true to oneself??

[rich]

lets sit down and have milk and cookies with them....obama's way....that should take care of it....you all know what he says....lets TALK......that will stop this from going on there...

[oldkingtroll]

To anyone who wishes to check on sources, including "the truth" above, go to the BBC and do a search using the terms: Iraq, gay, killing. You will find quite a few stories, including a TV spot, on the matter.

[Jeff]

I’m sickened, what a disturbing story.
My heart goes out to all people gay or straight
Anywhere in this world who are being mistreated.

I grew up in a very conservative Mennonite colony.
And understand the religious aspect to intolerance.
To being gay or just different then what they call normal.

Religion is the main cause of most if not all.
The wars, torturer, and killing in this world.

[Tom]

Here is a clear example of how our government does NOT give a damn about issues like this. We need to start lobbying groups like GLAAD, HRC and others to get off their collective asses and hound Obama and company to DO something to follow up on the BS he spewed forth during campaigning. If we sit back and do nothing, then everyone else will do the same thing.

GLAAD: http://www.glaad.org/action/report.php

HRC:
http://www.hrc.org/12022.htm

[Ha]

I'm at a point where I believe that an entire race of people needs to be wiped off the face of the Earth. I never believed in Genecide but I do now. A race of people that do nothing be murder steal rape out of greed and power all in the name of a religion is total evil. These beliefs are breed into their gene where they are born murderers thieves and rapist. They have to cover their women isn't that proof enough. They have to hide everything because of their inbread jealous and greed. These people all need to be executed man woman and child. The evil teachings are bread out to every generation for 3ooo years and no sign of progress or inteligence has come from them. They're only moderen because of trade and stealing technology from civilized countries like ours. Its time for the genecide of ever last one of them. I don't want to see anymore death at all. Once they're all gone there truly will be peace on Earth. These people started all the hate and had to create religion to govern themselves. Its not working and its time they all die. I don't think the Apocolypse was meant for us it was meant for the Evil people in the Middle East. Kill every last one of them and Utopia will finally begin.

[Michael]

"Religion" in this story is just an excuse to justify the prejudices of the mullahs; it is not the cause of the hatred. I'm as religious as they come, and also radically queer, born-again, Leftist, an Anglican priest, and legally married to another man for the past 6 years. Don't blame shit like this on religious leaders. To do so misses the opportunity to identify fundamental social ills (in Iraq and here) that need to be changed. Religious leaders denouncing gays are no more abusive of their positions than the dry-rot of Log Cabin Republicans who would sell out their brothers for a bigger tax dividend......
Now, what are we going to do to bring this story to the world's (and Obamaa's) attention?

[Hammer H.]

Its really quite remarkable how many people are posting comments on here condeming all religion for this. Unbelievable. One guy even went so far as to say all religion should be wiped out. Good grief, how ridiculous. Yes, I agree, what is going on is terrible but lets have some perspective here and not blame all religion and all those you practice a form of religion.

Im surprised the article didnt come right out and blame the U.S. Thats the usual tone of these Irag articles. Oh, and where was the outrage over the hundreds of thousands of people Sadam Hussain killed?

[Carebear]

If the good do nothing then evil will flourish. This story should incite justice.

Forget about religion - lets use our democracy and law.

Contact your local representative; rally; talk about this.

Together we CAN make a difference!

[LDH]

Ha, I sincerely hope that you are being satirical in the hopes of pointing out the heinous absurdity of wanting an entire country/race/religion wiped out because of the (deeply wrong) actions of some members within that group.

If not, you are SO far off base. The extent of your argument is either misinformed conjecture or a incorrect. The people committing these acts are the vast minority, so seeking to punish everyone is unfathomably unjust. Whether it's from continuous exposure to propaganda or being personally hurt by the actions of the incredibly small percentage of the members of the Arab world who are committing this violence, your perceptions have clearly been skewed in a very, very destructive way.

Again, if I'm misreading a satirical response, then my apologies. I just think that it's vital to address fear and ignorance-driven hate rhetoric when it pops up, in the hopes that it won't fester. Hate-bred violence is hate-bred violence, and while there might be a value to anger when it comes to fighting oppression, we need to check and re-check whether that anger is targeted at the right places or else we won't be changing anything, just rearranging who is committing the evil acts.

[North_Star_Ohio]

I'm not sure why I bother reading the majority of comments to any story on this site. No matter what it is...the culprit is Americans that have an opinion on gay marriage that doesn't agree with gays or evil Christians or filthy Jews. I'm 37 and I've never spent one day of my life hating my own country like so many people that post comments here do. What they do to gays in Iraq and other muslim countries is torture but the demented people that post here think that's as bad as being banned from getting married to another man. And the constant screams of how we'll all be put in concentration camps and tortured if "Christians have their way" is ludicrous....just as ludicrous as the people that scream that heterosexual marriage is at risk if men can marry each other.

[daddy_bear54]

This is an example of why complete separation of church and state is absolutley necessary. This is also an example of why we should never have invaded Iraq.

And by the way, fuck North_Star_Ohio

[wallace]

these people who claim to be religous are just like the ones over here in america like jones back in the 70's they use the bible for their evilness. people fall for it. True religion is in our hearts with goodness and kindness. Anything other than that is evil and satonic. Maybe some of these people need some glue on their lips, their closet days are over !!!

[wallace]

I hope wyoming doesn't read this. they may get some ideas. What a sick world, and then they call the gays sick??? loving and killing are not the same words...........need I say more ??

[North_Star_Ohio]

Daddy_bear54.....I'll have to respectfully decline your offer of anal sex. Bears the same age as my dad don't do anything for me. Thanks anyway.