Term ‘homosexuality’ banned in Iraq, replaced with ‘sexual deviance’

Baghdad: Iraq's Communications and Media Commission (CMC) issued a directive compelling media and social media companies to refrain from using the term "homosexuality," replacing it with "sexual deviance."

The regulation, if finalized, will also ban the term "gender" across mobile applications provided by licensed phone and internet companies.

While Iraq doesn't overtly criminalize gay sex, critics argue that such terminological changes could further marginalize the LGBT community. The directive has drawn attention to the country's loosely-worded morality clauses in its penal code, which have previously been employed to target LGBT individuals.

The Arabic-language statement from the regulator instructs media organizations to adhere to the new language guidelines and warns of potential penalties for violations, which may include fines.

This move comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions, with rainbow flags symbolizing LGBT pride being torched in protests by Shi’ite Muslim factions critical of recent religious incidents in Sweden and Denmark.

While over 60 countries still criminalize gay sex, the debate over terminology and representation continues to evolve globally. In contrast, more than 130 countries have decriminalized same-sex sexual acts, underscoring the contrasting attitudes towards LGBT rights worldwide.