Fresh from the printer of the United Nations is a report on human rights in Iraq. Guess what: They’re not great! Some 26,249 people are being held in Iraq prisons, many of them in overcrowded facilities (just like the U.S.!) and without even being formally charged with a crime. Sometimes prisoners are subjected to beatings and electroshock. And “the vast majority of women still face at least one form of domestic violence.” (At least it’s not two?) The U.S. got wristslapped for its holding of prisoners “for prolonged periods without judicial review,” but otherwise America wasn’t criticized. Oh, and while the UN report noted “continued attacks against Christian and other religious or ethnic minorities,” guess what didn’t get mentioned? The torture and murder of Iraq’s gays.
Indeed, the report covers mostly 2008, when the media wasn’t as dedicated to covering the slaughter of Iraq’s GLBTs. But last time we checked, the UN doesn’t (or shouldn’t) operate on CNN’s watch, and these type of human rights violations aren’t some state secret, because they are HAPPENING IN THE STREET.
But as Newsweek points out, the UN report doesn’t include a single mention of the horrors faced by the queer community in Iraq.
We’re sure, like Obama, it’s just an oversight. And with a few more days or weeks after this global economic meltdown gets sorted out, they’ll get around to it.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
KEVIN VANCOUVER BC
outrageous… how is it that we as a group of people are so quickly singled out and yet always the first forgotten.
Roy Pyatt
It is just a damned shame that we are so unimportant to some people that we don’t even deserve mention but this is beyond the pale. I am sick over this injustice.
TANK
C’mon, don’t late hatred of bush (which is justified) color your dislike for the effete, useless organization that the u.n. is.
alan brickman
the un hates gays and jews…big surprise….
stephen kay
We should disband or at least withdraw from the UN and set up a new body that only nations who are truly democratic and believe in human rights are welcome
bigjake75
This is the same body that allowed the corrupt oil for food program with Saddam. All that money went to him instead of feading iraqi’s. Of course, the UN is a piece of crap.