Iraqi Gay Men Afraid For Their Lives
NGUYEN: Well, coming out of the closet can be a struggle for many gay people, but in Iraq it can be downright deadly. According to a new Human Rights Watch report, Arwa Damon tells us why gay men in that country are afraid for their lives.</s>ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When this video sprung up on YouTube back in January showing Iraqi gay men partying, it caused a terrifying backlash. In this report released on Monday, Human Rights Watch warned of a, quote, "spreading campaign of torture and murder against Iraq's gay community." "They used to always hunt us, but after this video posted, it became much worse," this gay man tells us. He and his two friends brave enough to speak out but too frightened to have their identities revealed. (on camera): What are some of the atrocities being committed against the gay community that you know of? (voice-over): "Many of my friends were killed and many others wounded or harmed," the eldest among them says, "Some were tortured. They shot glue up their anus. They have started a war against us." "I was with my boyfriend driving around. I had my head on his shoulder," this man remembers. "Security forces stopped us, and ordered out of the car. They beat my boyfriend severely and put him in jail. He's been there for four months." This list was posted in Baghdad's Shia Slumus Sadr (ph) City. It lists names of individuals accused of being gay. Part of it warns, "If you do not end this shameful behavior, your fate will be death." Some gay Iraqis have even been killed by their own family, ashamed of the stigma surrounding homosexualiy. This widely circulated cell phone video shows a transsexual being harassed by Iraqi police. "He was a hairdresser," his friend tells us. "He was killed by his family after the Iraqi police threatened to kill him. I heard they even wanted to burn him alive or stone him to death." These young men tell us how they were captured by militias who hacked off their hair. One shows a scar left by acid doused on his leg. The other displays a slash on his wrist. (on camera): Members of Iraq's gay community have to try to blend in when they are out on the streets or face the consequences. The Iraqi government says it condemns the murder or abuse of any of its citizens but has done little else to protect the country's homosexuals. Those we spoke to have said they are left to fend for themselves. (voice-over): According to Human Rights Watch, it's difficult to put an exact number on homosexuals killed. Indication are that the number is in the hundreds. Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.</s>NGUYEN: I'm Betty Nguyen. Thanks so much for joining us. CNN NEWSROOM continues with Tony Harris.