For violation of the ban are given huge prison sentences.
The Iraqi Parliament has approved a bill criminalizing same-sex relations. Violators will face criminal liability and imprisonment for up to 15 years.
According to Iraqi parliamentarians, the move is aimed at protecting religious values, Reuters reports. Human rights activists, meanwhile, condemned it as the latest attack on the LGBT community in Iraq.
The US State Department said the law passed by the Iraqi parliament was a threat to human rights and freedoms and would weaken Iraq’s ability to diversify its economy and attract foreign investment.
“This amendment threatens those most at risk in Iraqi society. It could be used to restrict freedom of speech and expression,” the State Department said in a statement.
