Apr 28, 2006   | COMMENTS     

NEW YORK — The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that gay Iraqis are increasingly targeted for violent threats, kidnappings, attacks, and murder solely because of their sexual orientation. In response, the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission has written to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the issue. "IGLHRC is alarmed by the documented escalation of violence against gay people in Iraq," wrote Paula Ettelbrick, executive director of IGLHRC, in the letter. "We call on the United States, political leaders around the world, and Iraqi authorities to take responsibility for speaking out and stemming the targeting of gay people for kidnapping and murder, and seeing that those committing these crimes are punished." The gay-rights group called on the Bush administration to publicly condemn the escalation of violence against gays in Iraq and take all possible measures to ensure their protection. In March, the British gay-rights group Outrage held a protest over a fatwah issued by Shiite Iraqi leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani that supports the killing of gay people "in the most severe way." Bush administration officials have not commented publicly on Sistani’s fatwah.

Gay couples in Belgium get adoption rights

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — The Belgian parliament narrowly approved a bill to grant same-sex couples equal rights in adoption. Senators backed the proposal April 20 by a vote of 34-33 with two abstentions. The House had earlier voted 77-62 in favor of the bill. Belgium now becomes the fourth European Union member state to allow same-sex couples the same adoption rights as heterosexual married couples, after Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden. Up to now, only heterosexual couples or single people were granted adoption rights. "It is a memorable day for the children of gays. Finally they earn the right of a worthy legal link with both their parents," said Mieke Stessens of the Belgian Federation of Gays. Belgium is also one of four countries that currently allows gay couples to marry, along with the Netherlands, Spain and Canada.

Filipino group slams anti-gay remarks of Muslim leader

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Gay activists here expressed disgust over an Islamic leader’s statement about homosexuality, arguing that it made them more determined to continue with their struggle for gay emancipation, the Sun Star reported April 20. Members of ProGay-Philippines said an Islamic preacher known as Ustadz Ali stated that homosexuality is a "form of perversion" that destroys the natural order of creation and that banning gays all together could be a "positive step forward in creating a violence-free society," the newspaper reported. Samer Sandukan, a ProGay-Cotabato spokesperson, told the newspaper, "We strongly denounce the idea of homosexuality being a form of perversion of the natural order of creation. We also condemn people who drastically say that homosexuality is a mortal sin."

Iran leads Mideast in fighting AIDS

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s fight against the spread of HIV hinges on a small AIDS awareness handbook and an aggressive program in prisons, the Kansas City Start reported April 16. But the country’s program is considered among the best in the Middle East and is even being exported to Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Pakistan and other Muslim nations. While the government continues to quarantine HIV-positive people and preaches abstinence as the only solution, it also is giving out clean syringes and methadone treatments to heroin addicts, the newspaper said. Health workers pass out condoms to prostitutes, and government clinics offer free HIV testing, counseling and treatment. In its prison, Iranian officials made available condoms and needles. The country spent nearly $30 million this year on the program, the newspaper reported.

Nine Cameroon men acquitted of sodomy

YAOUNDE, Cameroon — Nine men detained on sodomy charges in Cameroon were acquitted of all charges, according to a news release issued by International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission. The men had been detained in Kondegui prison for nearly a year. The verdict was seen by all involved as a major victory for human rights in Cameroon. "I’m told that the trial lasted less than 10 minutes, with no witnesses being called by the prosecution," said Cary Alan Johnson of IGLHRC. "Judge Tonye, the magistrate overseeing the trial, stated that since there was no proof offered he declared the men innocent of all charges." In a communication to IGLHRC, the Cameroon Minister of Justice Amadou Ali had justified the detention of the men as ensuring "that positive African cultural values are preserved."