(Reuters) – The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) has mandated that all media and social media companies operating in Iraq use the term “sexual deviance” instead of “homosexuality,” according to a statement from the regulator. The use of the term “gender” has also been banned. This directive includes all phone and internet companies licensed by the CMC, who are now prohibited from using these terms in their mobile applications.
According to the Arabic-language statement, the regulator “directs media organisations … not to use the term ‘homosexuality’ and to use the correct term ‘sexual deviance’.” A government spokesperson stated that a penalty for non-compliance has not yet been determined, but it may include a fine.
While gay sex is not explicitly criminalized in Iraq, loosely defined morality clauses in the country’s penal code have been used to target members of the LGBT community. Over the past two months, major Iraqi political parties have increased their criticism of LGBT rights, often seen in protests where rainbow flags are burned by Shi’ite Muslim factions who oppose recent Koran burnings in Sweden and Denmark.
According to Our World in Data, more than 60 countries criminalize gay sex, while same-sex sexual acts are legal in over 130 countries.
(This story has been refiled to remove picture)
(Reporting by Timour Azhari in Iraq and Omar Abdel-Razek in Cairo; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
