In a move that has sparked international concern, Iraq’s parliament has recently passed a bill criminalizing same-sex relationships , imposing a sentence of up to 15 years in prison . Transgender individuals are not spared either, facing up to three years in jail. This legislation marks a significant regression in human rights and has been widely condemned by rights groups. The Law and Its Implications The law, backed mainly by conservative Shi’ite Muslim parties who form the largest coalition in Iraq’s parliament, amends a 1988 anti-prostitution law . It bans same-sex relations with at least 10 years in prison and mandates at least seven years in prison for anybody who promotes homosexuality or prostitution. Furthermore, it imposes between one and three years in prison for anyone who changes their “biological gender based on personal desire and inclination”, people and doctors who perform gender-affirming surgery, or men who willfully dress in an effeminate manner or ac...