By Ali Al-Rumaih, The-14
20 Shawwal 1445 AH corresponding to April 29, 2024
After the Iraqi Parliament voted on the amendment to the law combating prostitution and sexual deviance, which was passed on Saturday, 18 Shawwal 1445 AH corresponding to April 27, 2024, the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, posted a statement on the X social media platform from the office of the spokesperson, Matthew Miller, at the U.S. Department of State.
The statement on X:
“The United States is deeply concerned by legislation passed today by the COR that threatens constitutionally protected human rights and fundamental freedoms. This action threatens those most at risk in Iraqi society. It can be used to further hamper free-speech and personal expression and inhibit the operations of NGOs across Iraq.
The legislation also weakens Iraq’s ability to diversify its economy and attract foreign investment. International business coalitions shorturl.at/doS13 have already indicated that such discrimination in Iraq will harm business and economic growth in the country. Respect for human rights and political and economic inclusion is essential for Iraq’s security, stability, and prosperity.”
The spokesperson’s office at the U.S. Department of State used the term “homosexuality، المثلية” while the Iraqi Parliament used the term “sexual deviance.” Iraq utilizes the term “sexual deviance” and prohibits the term “homosexuality, المثلية” in media outlets.
The U.S. Ambassador’s post on the social media platform X garnered numerous reactions both inside and outside of Iraq, with many considering it blatant interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.
“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Legal legislation based on religious provisions, social values, and popular will represent the walls, boundaries, and honor of a country that no one is allowed to trespass.”
Sayed Hussain Al-Hakim
Sheikh Murtadha Al-Hili posted on his channel on Telegram:
“Iraq is its own master in everything. There is no role for foreign strangers in it.”
Sheikh Murtadha Al-Hili
Additionally, Ekseer Al-Hikma (the Wisdom Elixir) channel on Telegram posted a statement from Sheikh Adel Al-Hilali:
“You are worried about what is happening in Iraq, we are worried about what is happening in America 😊
A clever response to the American Ambassador:
We are deeply concerned about the violations and suppression of freedom of expression and the arrests in American universities such as Columbia, Washington, Ohio, which threaten human rights and fundamental freedoms protected constitutionally. These arbitrary actions jeopardize the most vulnerable individuals in American society and could be used to obstruct freedom of expression and personal expression and hinder the work of civil society organizations throughout America. Furthermore, this legislation weakens America’s ability to diversify its economy and attract foreign investment. This will harm business and economic growth in the country, and respect for human rights, political, and economic integration is essential for America’s security, stability, and prosperity.”
It would have been more appropriate for the U.S. government not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and to focus on its own internal affairs, providing its citizens with ample freedoms of expression, as described by Sheikh Adel Al-Hilali in his above statement.
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