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Responding to the directive issued by the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) that media outlets must replace the term homosexuality with sexual deviance in their published and broadcast language, Amnesty Internationals Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa Aya Majzoub said:

The directive from Iraqs official media regulator is the latest in a series of attacks on freedom of expression under the guise of respect for public morals. The CMCs ban of the word homosexuality and insistence that media use sexual deviance instead is a dangerous move that can fuel discrimination and violent attacks against members of the LGBTI community.

Furthermore, its ban and demonization of the word gender demonstrates a callous disregard for combatting gender-based violence at a time when civil society has been reporting an increase in crimes against women and girls, amid widespread impunity.

The Iraqi authorities must immediately overturn this decision and ensure that they respect the right to freedom of expression and non-discrimination for all individuals in the country, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.

The Iraqi authorities must immediately overturn this decision and ensure that they respect the right to freedom of expression and non-discrimination for all individuals in the country, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.

Political parties in Iraq have increasingly criticized LGBTI rights, frequently burning rainbow flags and making outlandish claims blaming homosexuality for the spread of disease.

Between January and June of this year, the Ministry of Interior led a campaign to crack down on indecent content online, prosecuting at least 20 individuals over the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression using vague public morality laws. On 18 July Amnesty International raised concerns regarding the governments re-introduction of two draft laws to Parliament which, if passed, would severely curtail the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Iraq.

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Iraq: Authorities must immediately reverse media ban on the terms ... - Amnesty International

TEHRAN Iraqi Interior Minister has said his county is ready to host five million foreign pilgrims participating in the Arbaeen religious rituals.

Abdul Amir Al-Shammari who presides over a high committee for maintaining Arbaeen security, said that Iraq has prepared to host five million pilgrims from abroad, adding that five provinces of the country are prepared for the Arbaeen trek, Mehr reported on Monday.

Currently, thousands of pilgrims have commenced their journey marching from their home country to the holy city of Karbala.

According to Iranian officials, millions of people are preparing to join the Arbaeen pilgrimage individually or in groups; For this purpose, several Mawkib (voluntary stations) have been installed on the roads and near the border crossing points between Iran and Iraq to serve the pilgrims.

Arbaeen marks an end to the 40-day mourning period following the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and his loyal companions at the Battle of Karbala on Muharram 10 in the year 61 AH (680 CE).

AFM

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Iraq expects five million pilgrims for Arbaeen rituals - Tehran Times

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held on Tuesday a meeting with foreign ministers of Jordan and Iraq in Cairo, within the framework of the tripartite cooperation mechanism that brings together the three countries.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abou Zeid said that the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of Cairos hosting of the meeting of the Arab Liaison Committee on Syria, constitutes an important platform for joint efforts aimed at strengthening the mechanisms of economic cooperation between the three countries in various fields.

It is an opportunity for consultation and coordination on various regional and international issues of common interest, in order to preserve the unity of the Arab world and maintain the security and stability of the countries and peoples of the region.

The meeting was a good opportunity to follow up on cooperation and strategic integration projects between the three countries.

Abou Zeid revealed that the foreign ministers of the three countries agreed to hold a follow-up meeting on the sidelines of the high-level meetings of the UN General Assembly in New York next September, in order to accurately determine the executive position of joint cooperation projects and provide the necessary support and facilities to facilitate their implementation on the ground.

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Cairo hosts tripartite cooperation mechanism meeting between ... - Daily News Egypt

AIFF Media Team NEW DELHI:The Indian senior men's team have been drawn against Iraq in the semi-final of the 49th King's Cup 2023 after the draw ceremony was conducted by the Football Association of Thailand on Wednesday, August 16, 2023.

The match will take place at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai, Thailand on September 7, 2023. Thailand will take on Lebanon in the other semi-final later on the same day.

The winners of the 49th King's Cup 2023 semi-finals will contest the final on September 10. The losers will meet in the third-place play-off.

As per the draw mechanics, Iraq (as the highest FIFA-ranked team - 70th) and Thailand (as hosts and ranked 113th) were placed in separate match-ups, and drawn against the remaining two teams - India, ranked 99th, and Lebanon, ranked 100th.

India's last meeting with Iraq was a 0-2 defeat in a friendly in Baghdad in 2010.

It will be India's fourth participation in the King's Cup in Thailand, with the most recent one coming in 2019, where the Blue Tigers went down to Curaao in the semi-final before beating hosts Thailand 1-0 for the bronze medal. India also won bronze in their first appearance in the tournament in 1977, defeating the likes of South Korea, Singapore and Indonesia. In 1981, India were eliminated in the group stage.

49th King's Cup 2023 Draw Result: Iraq vs India (16:00 IST, September 7, 2023) Thailand vs Lebanon (19:00 IST, September 7, 2023) Third-place play-off (16:00 IST, September 10, 2023) Final (19:00 IST, September 10, 2023)

All matches will take place at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

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India to meet Iraq in 49th King's Cup 2023 - AIFF

DUHOK, Iraq

An Ezidi man, who fled from the Sinjar district of Mosul, Iraq, nine years ago due to the Daesh/ISIS terror groups occupation of the region and settled in a refugee camp in Duhok province, makes a musical instrument and performs his art at a workshop he set up under harsh conditions.

Ilyas Kolo, 68, who lives in the Bersive camp in Duhok, contributes to the livelihood of his family by making baglama, an indigenous Turkish lute-like instrument, in the makeshift structure he built right next to his tent.

Speaking to Anadolu, Kolo said he has been making efforts to hold on to life after migrating from Sinjar to Duhok.

"We were brought to this camp after being freed from captivity of Daesh/ISIS, he said adding that he makes a living by keeping alive the music culture of his ancestors.

Fearing that PKK terrorists in Sinjar will kidnap and kill their children, Ezidis are afraid to return to their hometown.

Daesh/ISIS terrorists attacked Sinjar, a region with an Ezidi-majority population, in August 2014.

The terror group kidnapped and killed thousands of people, including women and children, or detained them in areas under its control.

The PKK terrorist organization managed to establish a foothold in Sinjar in 2014 under the pretext of protecting the Ezidi community from Daesh/ISIS terrorists.

Sinjar has a strategic position, as it is some 120 kilometers (74 miles) from Mosul and close to the Turkish-Syrian border.

An agreement signed between Erbil and Baghdad on Oct. 9, 2020, which is aimed at eliminating the PKK terrorist group in the region, has not been implemented yet.

Estimates put the total Ezidi population across the world at nearly 700,000 people. They are concentrated in northern Iraq, but also live in countries like Syria and Trkiye.

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Unable to return home due to PKK presence in Iraq's Sinjar, Ezidi ... - Anadolu Agency | English