Karrar, a 23-year-old unemployed gay Iraqi living in Babylon, is facing increasing fear and uncertainty as the Iraqi government has recently criminalized homosexuality and transgender identities. This legislation has pushed the vulnerable LGBTQ+ community, like Karrar, into a precarious situation, considering relocation or seeking asylum to escape the oppressive environment at home.
With anti-LGBTQ+ measures in effect, Karrar is navigating a world where even his privacy feels threatened. The recent amendments to the law in Iraq have intensified the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, subjecting them to imprisonment for up to 15 years for same-sex activities and criminalizing gender-affirming surgeries.
Hayden, a 22-year-old queer individual in Najaf, expresses shock at the strict new law, which has added to the existing threats and dangers faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Iraq. The fear of violence and discrimination has prompted LGBTQ+ Iraqis, like Mary, a transwoman and writer, to consider leaving the country in search of safety and acceptance.