Up Too Late: An Endless Search for Mr.Right & Other Important Things in Life

GQ published an exceptional article this month on the current problems Iraqi gays are going through, in an effort to make an exit for the West, the unreachable fortress for many gravely in need of its help.

It has to be mentioned, however, that many Iraqis, gay or straight, die on their way to freedom, aka Europe/North America/anywhere but Iraq.

The exceptional nature of Ali Hili's case [and thousands of other Iraqi gays, for that matter] is that they are hated by everyone in Iraq. Being gay is not the best thing to be when you're Christian (except for United Church Christians), Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and well, add to that homophobia that develops as a result of cultural influence of men assuming their role in the society as the providers of, among other things, fluid for reproduction ... It may be funnily termed, but it's true...

It is sad to see that a society that once, long time ago, was an open haven for libertarian ideas and lifestyles, including sexually diverse communities, is today attacked by the fans of monosexuality. I call it that because uniquely, attempting to heterosexualize a whole world can only bring a dictatorial nature to something that should be enjoyed, but is instead repressed.

Below is the intro. to the article by David France(Kudos!). It's an extremely emotional article, an account many of us would be unable to even imagine, especially not from our homes on this side of the fortress.

you can read the full article on GQ or click on the title below.

DYING TO COME OUT: THE WAR ON GAYS IN IRAQ
Ali Hili is a gay Iraqi whose government forced him to spy on other homosexuals. Now, after a daring escape from his home country, Hili is doing everything he can to make up for the past...

Other articles:
Gay Rights and the War in Iraq [The Drop]
Gay Iraqis Fear for Their Lives [BBC]
Iran Exports Anti-Gay Pogrom to Iraq [In These Times]

Image courtesy of Channel4

Labels: gay, GQ, human rights, iraq, media, men, middle east

Over mango tango (a mix of orange juice, mango and whipped cream) and with a friend who knew nothing of politics ("ummmm, why are you guys talking so much about Iraq? Did something happen there or something?"), my friend Haroon and I discussed the recent execution of Saddam Hussein.

Both of us being naturally interested in politics and especially Middle East politics, we began discussing the importance of Hussein's execution on the night before Eid-ul-Adha, one of the two most important Muslim holidays of the year. Yes, Saddam Hussein was executed on the eve of what in Christian culture would be seen as the execution of a former president who has committed war crimes on Christmas Eve, or a prime minister who has been executed on the first day of Hannukah. We talked about two things and Haroon disagreed with one, namely the idea that Saddam would now be seen as a martyr by the Sunnis of Iraq, seeing as cell phone camera footage showed the demeaning treatment he had been given during the final moments of his life. Yes, I sympathize with Saddam Hussein when it comes to the last moments of his life because NO ONE deserves to die that way, not even someone who has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of fellow citizens. We both agreed on the point that his execution was well-planned ahead of time so as to collide with Eid-ul-Adha. It was a strategy of revenge of sorts, probably to the Sunnis of Iraq to demonstrate that now, it is the power hour of the Shi'a.

Today, BBC has an interesting article on Egyptian president Hosni Mobarak's reactions to the execution. It turns out, he's not happy either. As for the reactions in the Middle Eastern media, well, let's just say that right now, the cup is almost empty. And what does Amnesty International have to say about all this? Oh, sad times...

Labels: amnesty international, execution, iraq, media, middle east, saddam hussein