Coordinator of Iraqi LGBT has Been Assassinated

The U.S. presence in Iraq continues to do nothing to reduce fundamentalist religious extremism, particularly when it comes to the brutalization and murder of gays. Now, Peter Tatchell is reporting that the coordinator of safe houses for gays seeking to hide from religious extremists looking to hunt them down has been assassinated in Baghdad. It is depressing that gays continue to die because of evil manipulations of religious belief that turn religion - both Christian and Islamic - into such a source of evil, hate and destruction. My thoughts go out to Bashar's family and loved ones who will feel a great loss. Here are highlights from UKgaynews:

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This morning, I received news from Iraq that the coordinator of Iraqi LGBT in Baghdad, Bashar, aged 27, a university student, has been assassinated in a barber shop. Militias burst in and sprayed his body with bullets at point blank range.

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He was the organiser of the safe houses for gays and lesbians in Baghdad. His efforts saved the lives of dozens of people. Bashar was a kind, generous and extremely brave young man – a true hero who put his life on the line to save the lives of others.

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Gayswitoutborders further reports in part as follows:

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Sexual cleansing in Iraq - Islamist death squads are hunting down gay Iraqis and summarily executing them.
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STOP PRESS: This morning, news came from Iraq that the coordinator of Iraqi LGBT in Baghdad, Bashar, aged 27, has been assassinated in a barber shop. Militias burst in and sprayed his body with bullets.The so-called improved security situation in Iraq is not benefiting all Iraqis, especially not gay ones. Islamist death squads are engaged in a homophobic killing spree, with the active encouragement of leading Muslim clerics, such as Moqtada al-Sadr, as Newsweek recently revealed.http://www.newsweek.com/id/155656One of these clerics, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the spiritual leader of Shia Islam, issued a fatwa urging the killing of lesbians and gays in the “worst, most severe way possible.”

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The short film, Queer Fear - Gay Life, Gay Death in Iraq, produced by David Grey for Village Film, documents the tragic fates of a several individual gay Iraqis. You can view it here:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6vbpr Watch and weep. A truly poignant and moving revelation about the terrorisation and murder of Iraqi lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Since this film was made, the killings have continued and, many say, got worse.