The Iraqi parliament passed a law over the weekend that outlaws homosexuality with a punishment of up to 15 years in prison.
The law is an amendment to the country’s Law on Combatting Prostitution and Homosexuality and mandates a sentence of at least 10 years.
The new law also adds a sentence of seven years in prison for anyone who promotes homosexuality and a sentence of one to three years for any man who “changes his biological gender” or dresses effeminately.
The original bill included the death penalty for same-sex acts but was changed under pressure from the U.S. and E.U. Until this bill was passed, homosexuality and transgenderism weren’t illegal in Iraq.