Gay Men and Women to be Executed in Iraq

[FourScore]

Gay Men and Women to be Executed in Iraq
by DCDemocrat
Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 05:41:30 AM PDT

So, for the last six years, we have poured into Iraq our national treasure, including the tax dollars of gay men and women, their families, and their friends for what? It would seem that we have done so to assist the Iraqi government in executing Iraqi gay men and women. http://pageoneq.com/stories/iraq03302008.html Reports say that many gay persons are among the 128 persons awaiting execution in Iraq. These gay persons are to be executed for the "crime" of homosexuality and that Iraq intends to start these executions in "batches of 20" starting in this next week.

Activists are calling on the government of the United Kingdom, international human rights groups, and the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva to intervene. The report says that Amnesty International has called on the Iraqi government to make public all information about each of the 128 detained individuals.

Our State Department's human rights functions are housed in the Office of the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs. At the moment, the position is unfilled, but this is a list of telephone numbers of employees at that department. Maybe we should let them know about what's going on under America's watch in Iraq:

Under Secretary
Under Secretary Vacant 7250 202-647-6240
Personal Assistant (vacant) 7250 202-647-6704
Executive Assistant Eva Weigold Schultz 7250 202-647-7609
Senior Adviser vacant 7253 202-647-4096
Senior Advisor Cathy Blank 7253 202-647-2990
Senior Advisor Lisa Sherman 7250 202-647-7196
Special Assistant Kate Friedrich 7253 202-647-1190
Senior Advisor Sam Patten 7253 202-647-9108
Special Assistant Daniel Rochberg 7250 202-647-1038
Special Assistant Carl Schonander 7253 202-647-8703
Special Assistant Kelley Currie B-864 202-647-9804
Special Assistant Jeannette Windon B-864 202-647-9810
Staff Assistant Laurie Mitchell 7250 202-647-8877
Staff Assistant Agnes Liptak 7250 202-647-6205
Intern Justin Sosne 7253 202-647-1189

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/3/31/714914/-Gay-Men-and-Women-to-be-Executed-in-Iraq

[LynnTheDem]

1. That'll make the rightwing in America happy.

They only dream about that happening in America.

[pacalo]

21. Yes, those who long for the "good ol' days": Salem in the 1700s.

:mad:

[RoseMead]

37. If you're referring to the witch hunt

that's actually Salem in the 1600's. That doesn't diminish your point, however.

[Oregone]

2. As long as they are free enough to give us great oil contracts, thats as free as they need to be

[LeftinOH]

11. ..and its been just like that regarding Saudi Arabia -for decades...n/t

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Ain't it great that we could bring "democracy" to Iraq?

:argh: :banghead:

[Echo In Light]

5. "Operation FREE-DUMB," or whatever Orwellian bullshit cable "news" theme they gave it

Mission Accomplished!

[polmaven]

36. To BushCo that IS Democracy.

I honestly think if the cabal had lasted any longer, we would have seen the same thing right here in the not so distant future.

[marshall]

55. Democracy and "religions of peace" don't mix

Thank goodness we have progressed past these type of state mandated executions for this reason.

[Brgotn]

69. Are you

referring to a certain peaceful religion? The one that talks about peace if you meet their guidelines?

[Fedja]

82. ugh

Religion has little to do with it, it's the interpretations that are flawed.

[marshall]

87. Isn't religion all about the interpretation?

The interpretation of a religion is what allows a person to apply that religion's teachings into his or her life.

Christianity was at this point a few hundred years ago.

[Fedja]

90. Was it really?

I'd argue that Christianity has never outgrown this phase. Perhaps it has shown more tolerance for sexual orientation, but it still has major issues with people being "different".

The stigma of every Muslim being an extremist and of every Arab being Muslim was a major component in selling the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to the people. The big conservative evangelist stars were one of the main trumpets of the regime, which laid the foundations for years of death and carnage in the ME.

No religion is beyond that point, as they're all successfully abused to convince people that different is bad. And if we really do go and try to keep scores of who's done it more, you'll see Christianity is the first among equals.

[marshall]

91. But there aren't any "Christian" countries that have government sponsored execution of gays

Three hundred years ago, yes. They would be called witches and burned or drowned or pressed to death.

Not that there isn't still a stigma from most countries, and we're still fighting to completely get rid of sodomy laws, and there is police brutality that goes on behind the scenes and may even be locally condoned. But in my opinion that is a long way ahead of government sponsored executions.

[Xenotime]

4. What a fucking great job we did over there. * continues to spill blood in Iraq.

[cliffordu]

6. K&R

Speechless.

[Bryn]

7. Horrible! Horrible!

This is so sad. :cry:

and I am angry...angry! :grr:

How could this have happened? This is not right. Our government should do something about that.

[newtothegame]

8. What has Obama said about this? n/t

[FiveGoodMen]

14. He really SHOULD say something about this!

[glitch]

16. The whole world should, but since we are still occupiers over there our President definitely should.

:mad:

[Bluenorthwest]

17. Obama?

Has he said a word? Of course not.

[HughMoran]

54. Why say "of course not"

Are you implying that Obama does not support "the gay"?

[readmoreoften]

19. He signed the UN declaration against the death penalty for gays but only did so

after checking to make sure it contained no legal obligations to help. I don't expect much. Of course, maybe if the base screams itself hoarse he'll make a bland, vague statement or something.

[Baby Snooks]

63. Wrong

He signed it only afer he knew it wouldn't be approved by the General Assembly. We were promised change. I see no change. But then the Clintons don't believe in change and this is really a Clinton Administration. Not an Obama Administration.

No doubt Hillary will issue a statement. After the executions. After the "mainstream media" runs the story.

"They shouldn't have been asked but, well, they shouldn't have told..."

[TechBear_Seattle]

71. So far, he has said...

[Solly Mack]

9. K&R

[Sultana]

10. HOLY SHIT!

:-(

Somebody save them and get them out of that hell hole.

[LuvNewcastle]

12. K&R

[WillyT]

13. Get This Out There, Far And Wide !!!

:mad:

:kick:

[formercia]

15. Junior's reconstructionist model for a democratic Iraq.

I bet his Dominionist buddies are salivating at the thought.

[Fearless]

18. Just Great.

[cboy4]

20. Welcome to the Middle East and Sharia law....

It's so despicable, particularly in Iran .. they have no problem hanging gay childen.

[Horse with no Name]

22. Mission Accomplished!

:sigh: Some days....:cry:

[defendandprotect]

23. To prove how righteous, humane + loving their "god" and they are . . . ????

[Starry Messenger]

24. How is this happening on OUR WATCH!?????

What the fuck is going on?

[Brucie Kibbutz]

30. I've been asking myself that very question a lot lately.

:shrug:

[Brgotn]

67. It is a

religious issue. Unfortunately Islam is contrary to many progressive beliefs. Many Islamic nations have the same practice.

[Deep13]

72. And it is a monsterous practice in all of them.

holy =/= right

[Brgotn]

75. Progressives

need to get past their fear and call out Sharia law for what it is.

[Deep13]

77. Exactly.

When oppression is based on race or ethnicity, it is a human rights issue. When it is based on gender or sexual preference it is somehow just a cultural issue.

[Fedja]

83. And the Bible is different?

It's NOT a religious issue, it's a government issue.

[Seedersandleechers]

25. Iraqi Gays: Things Were Better Under Saddam Hussein

Under Saddam Hussein, gay life in Iraq existed relatively peacefully in a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" sort of vein. Since the US invasion and the rise of sharia law, gays have been routinely rounded up, raped and murdered. Most gay men in Iraq now live hidden and terrified. Iraqi officials generally refuse to even discuss the situation and those that do say that gays are getting what's coming to them.






http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2008/08/iraqi-gays-things-were-better-under.html

[Baby Snooks]

66. And things are not much better here...

There are probably far more hate crimes committed against gays and lesbians than the "statistics" indicate. Law enforcement voluntarily reports the crimes to the Justice Department and quite a law enforcement officers, and in some cases agencies, don't consider crimes committed against gays to be crimes let alone hate crimes. Welcome to the new America. Which is really the old America.

[Brgotn]

70. Hate crimes

against whites aren't reported either. But tolerance in the us is light years ahead of the parts of the world living under Sharia law. The gay culture is celebrated here. OVer there they celebrate killing gays.

Big difference.

[burning rain]

26. The neocons promised Iraq would be...

a beacon of freedom and democracy in the Middle East, and so it is.

[chknltl]

27. Re: Those people about to be executed

What else can we do to help prevent this nightmare?

On edit: I've just sent this to Kieth Olberman; Rachel Maddow; Senators Murray and Cantwell, as well as to Representative McDermott and Dicks:

Dear: (Senator or Representitive)
I've just discovered to my horror that over 100 citizens of Iraq are about to be executed in batches of 20 per day for the 'crime' of being gay. Dear Lord, is there anything YOU can do to save their lives? Here is a link to the article where I first read this:

http://pageoneq.com/stories/iraq03302008.html

Please, find some way to put a halt to this madness.

Thank you.
(me)
Tacoma Wa.

It's not much but for now it's all I can think of to do for those poor souls. Being executed for being gay is beyond madness. I believe America should not stand by and allow this to happen.

[Usrename]

28. Come on Barack, do something.

Don't let these people die.

[NorthCarolina]

43. Don't hold your breath...... n/t

[madfloridian]

29. Horrible. Sickening

We can not allow this to happen under our "occupation". And that is what is...an occupation.

[TexasObserver]

31. Yeah, George, you installed FREEDOM in Iraq!!

This is unacceptable. Why isn't the US stepping in?

[vanboggie]

32. And American soldiers are still there - why?

Oh, right. We can't just pull them out of there today. :sarcasm:

Damned Cheney must be proud - more blood on his greedy hands, the bastard.

[Echo In Light]

56. They're still there for the same reason they were sent: protect business interests

[vanboggie]

81. And the Evil-doers are still unpunished

IMPRISON BUSH * TORTURE CHENEY (My favorite bumper sticker)

[WVRICK13]

33. This is Religion at Work

We would have the same thing happening here if we allowed the religious right to control our government. It isn't a muslim thing it is a brainwashed thing, christian, muslim, etc. And people wonder why I am atheist.

[Kalyke]

46. You can be a Christian and not brainwashed.

There are several on this board.

The trick is to question mankind's interpretation in Organized Religion. Always check it against Christ's teachings. You'll find that most fundies don't follow Christ's words any more than the Romans did.

[Brgotn]

68. And the

majority of Christians don't believe in executing gays.

[WVRICK13]

80. Clarification

I am sorry. I did not mean to sound like all Christians, Muslims etc. are brainwashed. I meant that those who are brainwashed are the ones who run theocracies and perpetrate these atrocities. In fact, although I I am an atheist, I have many wonderful religious friends. I think religions teach many valuable lessons about kindness and caring for your fellow man. I defend a persons right to worship and practice their beliefs, just not when it comes to mixing any religion with government.

[Fedja]

84. You can also be Muslim and not brainwashed

That's conveniently forgotten all too often by the staunchest of western liberals.

[and-justice-for-all]

34. The Religious Reich's wet dream...nt

[lonestarnot]

35. Son-of-a-bitch! There's some right wing "democracy."

Can this be stopped?

[GreenPartyVoter]

78. What other democracy would **co have exported? Hope someone can stop this!

[The Wizard]

38. But Saddam Hussein was

a ruthless dictator who enslaved his people and murdered them for no reason.
If this isn't terrorism, what is?
Another sparkling gem in the Bush/Cheney legacy. Hey Dick, you lying scumbag, send your daughter to Iraq where she can enjoy the fruits of democracy and freedom you imposed on those people.

[Bluenorthwest]

39. Forward this story to everyone

Including news organizations and elected officials, from local to international.

[Marrah_G]

40. I am deeply saddened that niether Obama nor Clinton has said anything about this

I expected more from them both.

[BigD_95]

41. this is a outrage!!!

r fucking military is there and we should be able to stop this. This is no different then mass murder. What the hell is wrong with people!

[NorthCarolina]

42. I still wish that America was at a point where the election of somone like a Kucinich

were a possibility and not fodder for ridicule. I am quite sure that a President Kucinich would intervene to put a stop to insanity such as this. Until we progress to that point as a nation, things like this will continue to be a unpreventable fact of life.

[gatorboy]

44. This is disgusting!

I don't know what else to say except I'll spread the word and start calling these folks to let them know that I am disgusted that my tax dollars are being funneled into a country that would let this happen! :mad:

[SacredCow]

45. K&R....

I just sent an email to one of my Senators (the other is Vitter, so I'm not going to waste my time)...

[Sandrine for you]

47. May you shoulb bomb the oficer section of that prison.

[olegramps]

48. We did not establish a Democracy in Iraq.

We established a Theocracy in which Sharia law takes precedence over all legislated laws. This fact is stated in their Constitution. It is the same in Afghanistan.

If the vast majority of people desire to live under this type of government, then there is very little that anyone can do about it. That is why I would abandon Afghanistan, Iraq and the entire Middle East. Just what do we hope to achieve? I could care less if the two major factions of Islam go on killing each other as they have done for nearly 1500 years. They are nothing more than barbarians at best.

Do you believe that women are denied rights because the majority oppose their enslavement? I say leave them to their own destruction, build up our defenses, regulate our borders and ports. Buy their oil and use it while conserving ours and become energy independent. The war was always for oil and had nothing to do with bringing democracy to these countries that are mired in the Dark Ages.

[NorthCarolina]

49. Words cannot describe how ill this makes me. n/t

[Politicub]

50. Oh my god - this is what we should be fighting

This is a gay holocaust - pure and simple. The people that are in charge of this injustice in Iraq should be immediately ousted at the demand of the US gov't.

This fills me with sadness and anger.

[guitar man]

51. Way to go, Bu$hco!!

By gawd that's how you spread freedom, democracy and equality. yessiree!! :applause:

Now that we kicked out that bad man Saddam, nothing bad will happen there anymore by golly!! :bounce:

Murka really fixed that place right up for them now did'nt we?!! :patriot:

:sarcasm:

Christ on a cracker, will someone go arrest those men already? Bush, Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld...all of them..IN JAIL RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!! :grr::grr::grr:

[benld74]

52. Oh yeah, they are a FREE Country now!

[HughMoran]

53. "IF you go forward with these executions, we will pull all support for your country and government"

We should not have a single troop or spend a single US dollar in a country that would commit such an atrocity. I certainly hope this disaster can be averted. :(

[guardian]

57. Religion of Peace

MY ASS

[HamdenRice]

58. This is a misleading story and will only discredit those who protest anti-gay violence using it

There is anti-gay violence in Iraq, but unfortunately, whoever first referenced this story garbled it, and it keeps getting more and more garbled. If you push this story as a way of protesting anti-gay violence in Iraq, you will be obfuscating the much bigger (worse) story of persecution.

The subject line that appears on the Greatest Page is flat out wrong, although it's good to see the OPer changed it so it appears somewhat less misleading in GD.

This is a cross posting of what I understand the actual underlying story to be:

If you are going to call your representatives about this, it's important to get the facts right, or they might be dismissive.

There are not 128 gays and lesbians facing execution. There are 128 Iraqis facing execution on any number of charges. An Iraqi exile GLBT activist has only reported the view that "many" may be gays and lesbians, but has never reported how many.

Considering the number of kidnappings, rapes, murders, ethnic cleansings and other atrocities that have taken place, and the generally biased judicial system, it would be shocking if the vast majority of these condemned prisoners were not accused of crimes other than homosexuality or simply accused of being enemies of one or another faction.

Moreover, there is no secular law on the books in Iraq that says homosexuality is punishable by death. A detailed analysis by International Lesbian and Gay Association's World Legal Survey shows that gays in Iraq are targeted for violence in spite of, not because of, Iraqi secular laws.

What seems to be happening (according to Mid East expert Juan Cole) is that the Shiite religious leader, Sistani, issued a fatwa condemning "sodomy," in which he said that what we would call statutory rape -- sex between an adult man and an underage boy -- should be punishable by death. Shiite gangs and militias have used that as justification for a reign of terror against gays and lesbians across the country. The worst of these abuses is summary execution on the streets of cities like Baghdad (up to 30 gays a month), but this is in the context of summary execution of Sunnis, women and political opponents.

It seems that a more general law by which Iraq adopted Sharia law has been interpreted by some authorities as incorporating Sistani's fatwa into Iraq's secular legal system. Hence, Iraqi police seem also to have taken it upon themselves without legal justification, to arrest members of gay rights organizations or people thought to be gay.

So the actual story seems to be that Iraqi, more specifically Shiite, death squads and militias have "disappeared" Iraqi gays and lesbians, and activists fear that they are among the 128 condemned prisoners. But the government has not released the identities of the 128 condemned prisoners, so the GLBT activists in Iraq don't know that any of the 128 are being executed for homosexuality, but fear that their disappeared community members may be among the condemned. That said, it would be odd that the "official" execution machinery would be doing the killing considering the heightened scrutiny involved compared to simply continuing what has been going on -- namely "unofficial," "non-judicial" killing of gays and lesbians. Obviously, official pressure is more effective when targeted at "official" killing than at "unofficial" killing.

It seems to me that considering how confusing the situation is, this is an opportunity to make common cause with everyone who is opposed to both capital punishment in Iraq and death squad activity, ethnic cleansing and militia violence.

[HughMoran]

60. Thanks for the clarification - I knew it was only a portion of the 128

(reading is fundamental), but I was not aware of the systematic killing of gays and lesbians which is a far bigger issue in my mind since there is no "official" law to fight and these people are living in terror every day which is horrible.

[HamdenRice]

62. That's exactly the point! nt

[Deep13]

79. Thanks for the clarification. nt

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bullwinkle428]

65. Thanks for contributing a viewpoint on the subject

than makes even little Shrub look moderate...

[StreetKnowledge]

64. What else is new?

Most of the Middle East thinks homosexuality is a crime against God. Just like those retards from the Westboro Baptist Church.

Why are we not figuring out how to make coal to oil technology work in America on a large scale? That would help us not have to deal with these people. Once we can get foreign oil dependence sorted out, or at least reduced to Canada and other places we can trust, let those morons stew in their own filth.

[Deep13]

73. Evil done by the ignorant in the name of god.

I feel so bad for gay people who have to live under this kind of cruelty. It is so unnecessary. :cry:

[Mollis]

74. This is very horrible.

:cry:
I hope something can be done.

[0xDEADBEEF]

76. And for someone who "need's killing"...

They're sure dragging their feet when it comes to hanging "Chemical Ali!"

[New Dawn]

85. Iraq's secular Ba'athist government had a good reason to repress...

The fundamentalists who are now in power there.

[FLAprogressive]

86. thank god we "freed" Iraq.

:sarcasm:

[Imagevision]

88. Just the kind of country I really want to be involved with - Americans...

[mnhtnbb]

89. This makes me sick to my stomach. I knew women's rights in Afghanistan

were subject to Taliban type restrictions, but this makes me physically ill.

:puke: