When Coming Out Is a Death Sentence Persecution of LGBT Iraqis

The rapid advance of the Islamic State and its takeover of large swathes of Iraq has spelled the beginning of a new chapter of deadly risk for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Iraqis.

This report by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC - now Outright International) and MADRE shows that the Islamic State’s imposition and enforcement of its interpretation of Islamic law put LGBT individuals at imminent risk of death. The report documents abuses, arbitrary executions and other challenges faced by LGBT people in Iraq, and calls on the international community to create safe spaces for the community, and expedite appeals by individuals fleeing the country.