Call for National LGBT Groups to Denounce Homophobic

Press Release: Al-Fatiha Condemns Sexual Humiliation of
Iraqi Detainees; Calls for National LGBT Groups to Denounce Homophobic
Human Rights Abuses


********************************* PRESS RELEASE
AL-FATIHA FOUNDATION

Media Contacts:

Faisal Alam, Founder & Director
Tel. 202-271-0067; Email: gaymuslims@y...

Suha Dabbouseh, Co-chair, Human Rights Committee
Tel. 404-218-4466; Email: dsuha@h...
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AL-FATIHA CONDEMNS SEXUAL HUMILIATION OF IRAQI DETAINEES

CALLS FOR NATIONAL LGBT GROUPS TO DENOUNCE HOMOPHOBIC HUMAN RIGHTS
ABUSES

May 10, 2004 - Al-Fatiha Foundation, a US-based organization
dedicated to Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
intersex, questioning (LGBTIQ), condemned the sexual humiliation and
abuse of Iraqi detainees by the US occupied forces in Iraq. Al-
Fatiha also called on national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
(LGBT) groups to denounce homophobic human rights absuses, being
committed by the US military.

"The physical, mental, sexual, and psychological torture that
hundreds of Iraqis have endured will never be understood by the world
community," stated Faisal Alam, founder & director of Al-Fatiha. He
continued by saying that "Sexual humiliation is perhaps the worst
form of torture for any Muslim. As queer Muslims, we must condemn in
the most forceful terms, the blatant acts of homophobia and sexual
torture displayed by the US military. These symbolic acts of abuse
represent the worst form of torture." More reports are arising about
the perverse forms of abuse that many innocent Iraqis endured.

Islam places a high emphasis on modesty and sexual privacy. Iraq,
much like the rest of the Arab world, places great importance on
notions of masculinity. Forcing men to masturbate in front of each
other and to mock same-sex acts or homosexual sex, is perverse and
sadistic, in the eyes of many Muslims. The public display of sexual
and physical humiliation of Iraqi detainees will most likely cause
lifelong psychological trauma, which cannot be eliminated by monetary
compensation or a simple apology.

Al-Fatiha called on all national LGBT groups to condemn the human
rights abuses against Iraqi detainees. While most national LGBT
organizations are focused on marriage equality, none have publicly
condemned the homophobic and chauvinistic acts of the United States
military in Iraq. "National LGBT organizations should be take note of
the symbolic nature of these abuses, especially since they reinforce
the homophobic and chauvinistic attitude of the US military
establishment," said Faisal Alam.

Al-Fatiha noted that the abuses of Iraqi detainees are not isolated
incidents and new reports indicate that similar sexual and physical
abuses have occurred in Afghanistan and in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
These reports of torture must be investigated by independent
observers. Al-Fatiha called for the US military to grant permission
for visitation by human rights organizations, so they can assess the
real conditions in military prisons and other areas where detainees
are being held.

"Human rights are universal and while we condemn the torture and
abuse of prisoners in other countries, we must also hold our own
country accountable for its war crimes," stated Suha Dabbouseh, co-
chair of Al-Fatiha's Human Rights Committee. Amnesty International
has stated that it considers the sexual, physical and mental abuse of
Iraqi detainees to be war crimes and against rules of war. "The
Geneva Convention and international treaties governing the conduct of
war were created to outlaw torture," said Suha Dabbouseh. "But under
the guise of a 'war on terror,' the United States and its allies have
conveniently forgotten about basic human dignity and human rights
granted to us as human beings, regardless of our religion, ethnicity,
gender, sexual orientation or whether we are a 'detainee' or
an 'illegal combatant,'" she continued.

Al-Fatiha and the queer Muslim community join other national Muslim
organizations, members of the United States Senate, Congress and
Presidential nominee John Kerry, by calling for the resignation of
Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense. Al-Fatiha also called on the
United States to end its occupation of Iraq, and to bring American
troops home.

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Action Items:

Send a letter to George W. Bush calling for an independent
investigation of the Iraqi abuses. -
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=10780

Sign a petition calling for the United Nations to take control of
Iraq while a peaceful and democratic transfer of power can occur. -
http://www.moveon.org/unauthority/

Protest / Rally - Bring the Troops Home Now - Pentagon, Los Angeles
and San Francisco - http://www.internationalanswer.org/

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Al Fatiha Foundation

Al-Fatiha Foundation is dedicated to Muslims who are lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, intersex, questioning, those exploring their
sexual orientation or gender identity, and their allies, families and
friends. Al-Fatiha promotes the progressive Islamic notions of peace,
equality and justice. We envision a world that is free from
prejudice, injustice and discrimination, where all people are fully
embraced and accepted into their faith, their families and their
communities. Founded in 1998, Al-Fatiha Foundation is a registered US-
based non-profit, non-governmental organization.
Al-Fatiha Foundation is a member of an international grassroots
network of organizations dedicated to Muslims who are lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, intersex, questioning, those exploring their
sexual orientation or gender identity, and other sexual and gender
minorities.

Al-Fatiha Foundation
PO Box 33532
Washington, DC 20033

Email: gaymuslims@y...
Web: http://www.al-fatiha.org and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/al-
fatiha-news