Iran has been infamous for its history of oppression, turmoil and violence. Not only has the country been a hotbed of political turmoil and religious zealotry, but also of hate-crimes and violations of human rights against those in the LGBT community. Most notably, the Islamic faith and the official laws of Iran make it illegal to engage in same-sex relationships. Many LGBT Iranians flee the country when facing prejudice as, if they remain and face prosecution for their “crimes,” they could be put to death. It’s not only the legal system that persecutes homosexuals but the citizens as well. Many young men have been killed and or reported on by their families; as they are said to have been “dishonoring their family.”
Discrimination against LGBT citizens comes not only from the government, but from peoples own families.
The treatment of gays in Iran is a systemic injustice in that it is illegal to engage in same-sex sexual activity and punishable by a prison sentence and up to death. LGBT Iranians are oppressed and discriminated against by their own government and denied basic human rights as a result of their sexual identity and orientation. Islamic Law dictates the morality of the country and, as a result, gays face extreme discrimination at the hands of both the government and Iranian citizens. Gays in Iran are subject to hate-crimes and persecution and are left with no political or social recourse. LGBT citizens of Iran are essentially subaltern in that, not only will the government persecute them, but the citizens and their own families will turn their backs on them and enact a barbaric sense of “justice.” They have no way of voicing their case and no way of changing things. They remain subject to the whim of others and must flee their own country when anyone discovers an essential element of who they are.
LGBT discrimination remains a mortal problem in the Middle-East.
Iranian LGBT citizens are subject to systematic discrimination and live in fear under the oppressive and discriminatory laws that bind their expressive freedom.
Ali Fazeli Monfared
Human rights are being denied to these citizens and they must seek foreign aid to evade corporal punishment. Earlier this year a young man named Alireza Fazeli Monfared was killed by his own family when it was learned he was gay. His half-brother and cousins beheaded him and dumped his body, desecrating their own family member. Iran must undergo great internal reform and withdraw Islamic Law in order to rectify the situation and save its LGBT citizens, like young Fazeli. Many countries leaders have condemned Iran’s actions against the LGBT community, though to no avail. No change can occur for these oppressed people until Iran can change its fundamental views.
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-monfared-gay-man-killed-beheaded-lgbt-plight/31249991.html
https://iranhumanrights.org/wp-content/uploads/LGBTQ-Iran-Fact-Sheet.pdf
https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/03/world/same-sex-laws-map-intl/index.html