Sunday, January 27, 2008

Police Treatment of LGBT in Iraq


Ali Hili, the 33-year-old gay Iraqi exile who is the founder
and coordinator of Iraqi LGBT, which has members, supporters
and informants throughout Iraq, told Gay City News this week
by telephone from London "New reports tell us that the seven
gay men were arrested by the police in the cities of Karbala
Najaf, Basra, and Ammara, and no one has been able to obtain
any news of them since December 2."


This week Iraqi LGBT released a video of the muscular interrogation
of a transgendered gay man by Iraqi police. "His name is Ali, but he
was living his life as a woman, and was a member of our group," Hili
told Gay City News, "and was one of those who had been living in the
safe house we ran in Basra for those threatened with death."

"The video, apparently made by police for their amusement, is
disturbing in the fact that in addition to showing the police
standing around and laughing and making crude remarks in Arabic
about Ali's sexuality, it is also dubbed with hate and revenge
music in Arabic," Hili said.

Describing the video, Hili said, "Clearly this is a very feminine-looking
man dressed as an Iraqi woman, heavy set and all dressed in a black
traditional garment and veil. He is very sad looking and, you can
tell very fearful for what may be coming his way, as off to the side
there is a policeman with hair clippers preparing to shave the long
black feminine hair from Ali's head. Ali bends over as they shave him.
Clearly he has been held for a day or two as now he has a growth of
a beard in the shaving scene whereas he did not in the beginning
of the video. They proceed to shave his head completely and have
him stand up to face the cameras and this is where the video ends.
We have no word or idea of what has taken place since the video
was shot. We are hoping and praying that Ali is still alive."

The above are parts of the article done by Doug Ireland for Gaycitynews
to read the rest of the article click here

The video is from Iraqilgbtuk

24 comments:

Afreeqiya said...
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Afreeqiya said...
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Afreeqiya said...
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Afreeqiya said...

(sorry about above, computer glitches)

But...I think I speak for everyone when I say: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Ali said...

hey afreeqiya,

don't worry about the glitches....

I guess it's a big AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
for the situation in Iraq



thanks....

Afreeqiya said...

Yeah, that was moreso me venting my frustrations- there are only so many ways I can articulate them.

And true, there will definitely be some severe consequences. Thank you so much for posting this so we can stay updated, brother. In solidarity.

the boomerang kid said...

hi ali,

i would just like to commend you on your blog. it's good to have some kind of forum for people who are otherwise repressed by their own society. i am gay like you. i am a filipino living in cambodia, and an LGBT advocate. i have a blog as well, at http://pinakadalisay.i.ph/ if you approve, i'd like to link up with you.

keep up the good work and God bless you always!

mike

d said...

I saw your blog featured in yahoo.com and this is the first entry that grabbed my attention. I think it has to be one of the saddest things I have ever seen . . it is heartbreaking to watch the transgendered woman, her sadness. .

thank you for posting and continue!

Jay Davidson said...

I am writing as a means of support to all of you who are posting to this site. I just read about it through the huriyahmag.com website.

I am an American, living in California, and have lived and traveled in West Africa. I have also traveled in the Middle East.

All of you have my respect and love, though we will never meet. I want you to know that you do have supportive people out there in the world, and I hope that the mentality of other people will change over the years, as all of us queer people come out and let them know that they have nothing to fear in knowing us.

Dark Daughta said...

Oh my goddess! And I sit here blogging about my oppression? As the video ended I had a sickening sense of fear and horror over what could only come next. Hope? Can I hope s/he got out okay? Can I even hope?

LGBT Health said...

Thank you for sharing stories like this! Know that you have friends all over the world who support you!

Ali said...

hello mike,

I'm sorry for the delay to respond.

Thank you man, and sure would love to add my link to your blog. Please, do keep the good work for all LGBT.

Thanks.

Ali said...

hello d,

I'm sorry for the delay to respond.

Oh yeah, it's so humiliating and sad and I really wish that she's safe.

thanks

Ali said...

hello jay,

Sorry for the delay to respond.

Thank you and I wish the same that the day will come
when our societies become more tolerant to LBGT.

Thanks

Ali said...

hello dark daughta,

Sorry for the delay to respond.


Actually, there is no information about her (Ali) and we all wish that she's alive and safe.


thanks

Ali said...

hello lgbt health,

thank you very much!



thanks

Sergio Saavedra Rivera said...

Hi Ali, I send you all my support
Best regards...

Ali said...

Hello Sergio Saavedra Rivera,

Thank you very much for your support. I really appreciate it.


Thanks

Jessie said...
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Jessie said...
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Jessie said...

I am a student in the United States and I am taking a class called Gender in the Middle East. We are doing a project where we read blogs from a male and a female then ask questions relating to the blog. Homosexuality in the Middle East has been an interest of mine. I saw the video of the Iraqi police officers shaving the head of Ali and I thought it was just sickening. I really feel for Ali and it saddens me to think that people are brutalized because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity. Is this type of treatment is common in Iraq for the LGBT community? Is gender factored into how brutal the police officers may be? Meaning, would there be more violence towards gay males than to gay females? Thank you for the blog and I wish you well.

Ali said...

hello Jessie,

thank you for your interest on my blog. Well, I can't say I know how is the situation for LGBT in general in Iraq. I think it would be better to contact Mr. Ali Hili
the founder of Iraqilgbtuk
http://iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com and also dating web sites where you can find gays and rare lesbians in Iraq.

if there is anything I can do, don't hesitate to contact me....


cheers....
ali

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