Sexual cleansing

Gov't denies gays are targets of killings. 17 April 2007 BAGHDAD (IRIN)

The Iraqi lesbian and gay community and NGOs dealing with gay issues have called for urgent action to protect gays and lesbians in the country.The groups say that the number of victims of "sexual cleansing" is growing on a daily basis."

In the past three months, more than 30 gays have been executed in Baghdad. The bodies have been found tortured, mutilated - sometimes with signs of rape," said Mustafa Salim, spokesman for the Rainbow for Life Organization (RLO), a Baghdad-based gay rights NGO.

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