Here is the BBC radio report on the situation for Iraqi LGBT. It is nothing but horror (and heroism) and here's the thing: life was better under Saddam.
Iraqi gays report a (discrete) gay life before 2003 which reminds me of the life which currently exists in Beirut. There were clubs, people could meet by the river. An exile says "no one was killed for being gay under Saddam regime".
This brilliant report goes to Baghdad and visits the Iraqi LGBT safe house. It is very hard listening.
"They had thrown [my boyfriend's] corpse in the garbage. His genitals were cut off and a piece of his throat had been cut out."
Some LGBT find their way to the UK. Very, very few. The UK Border Agency in every instance says they can go back and just 'be discrete'. I kid you not.
Not surprisingly (sic) both David Miliband and Phil Woolas refused to give an interview for this programme.
It includes a lot of background from my friend Ali Hilli. I can't begin to express my admiration for him. He is a true hero.
Listen to the show (60').
Gay Life After Saddam
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vDHL-lDddjJlCmMtOuIhtLYGywgXFECNWDqYC51614A5wEL6kqNfwb46SaXGafRAZRCXFXqtxexIrzi9yMapTGXVxCKfsrSQf5YlS6Q-fe64TAJPMej_MInanZhlhX64tP5E6Ax0kF4rJ8h7Yz-XCB=s0-d)
Apparently there is (or actually was) a big difference between Beirut's gay-life and Baghdad's under Saddam.
ReplyDeleteIraqi gays in Beirut (as refugees) find beirut much more open and more "free" than the life they were used to in Baghdad (again before the overthrow of saddam)
There are more opportunities to express themselves ( be it by getting drunk in the clubs, bars, cafes or just walking around without getting verbally harrassed by mr. imam or mr. priest)
But anyhow, thank you for the tip. Got something to listen to tonight.
Thank you for posting this. People need to know of these atrocities.
ReplyDeleteIronically, sometimes imitations ofhermes bag are even better than the genuine kind because hermes wallets can allow buyers to choose what color and size they want for their bags. The signature colors for hermes constance are usually red, brown, orange, black, and white in color.
ReplyDeleteBuy lida with a One Month Supply - Of course, lida daidaihua does offer a beginners one month supply of it's product to first time buyers. This is so you may get a feel for the lida slimming if you are a little unsure about ordering a large quantity of daidaihua , you can start off small with a one month supply for yourself. Buy slimming capsule Six Month Supply (Buy 3/Get 3 Free) with Free Unlimited Re-fills - You read that right! slimming capsules also offers a six month supply of their great product with free refills for life.
Chanel bags reached her peak in 1935. Just four years later she closed her couture house, but the boutiques continued to sell Chanel bag . Her retirement wasn’t meant to be, however, and when she came back to the fashion industry, she made a big impact with the stylish and timeless Chanel Wallet .
The Tiffany jewellery collection is a mark of the Tiffany rings design originality that illuminates the present and every fashion moment going forward. Do you take a look at the silver rings celebrates the 82nd Academy Awards with Tiffany earrings diamonds of legendary style?