A Brave New World

Thank the Lord that we English doctors had the time and resources to waste treating Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in August of 2004 when he was flown over to London for angioplasty at the governement's expense. The frail 74 year-old man who underwent a triple-bypass operation has been held up as the poster boy of a democratised, post-war Iraq not just by various real political commentators, but also by fat boy, homo journalist Johann Hari. Hari does at least point out that his new best friend "has views on social issues that, to a Western leftie, are (at best) distasteful. He is critical of divorce and he certainly isn't going to be joining any Gay Pride parades. But he believes in opening up a democratic space in which these ideas can be discussed."

No gay pride parades? Bit of an understatement some might say. On his own website, Al -sistani calls for the killing of homosexuals in "the worst, most severe way". For those, like myself, who can't read arabic, question 5 under 'lewat' (homosexual) asks "what is the judgement for sodomy and lesbianism?". The answer is clear: "Forbibben. Punished. In fact, killed. The people involved should be killed in the worst, most severe way of killing."

Exiled Iraqi Ali Hili, who heads up the LGBT UK Abu Nawas group is also unimpressed with Hari's taste in friends. He wants people to know about the Badr Corps and their activities in Iraq. He claims that "the Badr Corps is in fact nothing more than the military wing of Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution", which views Al-Sistani as its main spiritual leader. Badr has fronted a witch-hunt of lesbians and gays, using a network of informers who target immoral behaviour. "They kill gays, unveiled women, prostitutes, people who sell or drink alcohol, and those who listen to western music and wear western fashions. Badr militants are entrapping gay men via internet chat rooms. They arrange a date, and then beat and kill the victim."

Sounds fun, eh? Maybe not quite what you were expecting when you ordered out on Gaydar. Haydar Faiek, aged 40, a transsexual Iraqi, was beaten and burned to death by Badr militias in the main street in the Al-Karada district of Baghdad in September 2005. Sarmad and Khalid were partners who lived in the Al-Jameha area of Baghdad. Persons unknown revealed their same-sex relationship. They were abducted by the Badr organisation in April 2005. Their bodies were found two months later, in June, bound, blindfolded and shot in the back of the head

And they say that this is the best hope for Iraq?iraqhomophobiagayal-sistanimurder