On the occasion of the International Day against Homo-, Bi- and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), the EU representation in Baghdad last Sunday demonstratively raised a rainbow flag outside its building. The Iraqi government was outraged.

The government accuses the EU of having hurt the religious feelings of many citizens by raising the rainbow flag. Moreover, it was contrary to the values and social norms of the country, which is predominantly inhabited by Muslims, the Foreign Ministry announced according to a report by the state news agency INA.

According to media reports, the EU representation had hoisted the gay and lesbian symbol on the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia, BiH, Inter- and Trans-enemity on Sunday. The embassies of Canada and Great Britain followed suit.

The influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr was also outraged by the action and spoke of an “aggression against the law and religion of Iraq”. Only a few weeks ago, al-Sadr had claimed that same-sex marriage was the reason for the Corona pandemic.

Homosexuality is forbidden according to strict Islamic beliefs. In the ranking of the Spartacus Gay Travel Index 2020 Iraq ranks 161 out of 202 countries.

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