Execution of Homosexuals - How Long Do We Have?

Since the election of a right-wing religious fundamentalist president in Iran, things in that country seem to be going from bad to worse - at least for moderates and liberals who happen to live there. Reading this article (below) today about reported executions of homosexuals made me wonder how different things may become in this country if the 'back to the Bible' right-wing religious fundamentalist have their way. If biblical law is to trump secular law, then wouldn't homosexuals be executed under such a regime?

From an atheist's perspective, right-wing religious fundaMentalism is right-wing religious funaMentalism regardless of what imaginary deity you are worshiping. Thanks to Bush's wars in Iraq, how long do we have before the fundaMentalist there have completely wiped any secular and humanist based laws from the books? Stories like this should be a wake up call for all atheists, liberals and even religious moderates of the dangers of mixing extreme religious tenants with politics.

GAY RIGHTS WATCHDOG CALLS FOR IRAN INQUIRY

SUMMARY: Reports of more executions of gay men in Iran prompted a call for the United Nations to investigate and hold Iran accountable for possible human rights violations.

Reports of more executions of gay men in Iran prompted an international gay rights group to renew its call for the United Nations to investigate and hold Iran accountable for possible human rights violations.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) made the appeal on Wednesday, following reports that two young men were publicly hanged on Sunday on charges of homosexuality.

Earlier in the month another young man was hanged in a town square in northern Iran, according to the National Council of Resistance of Iran.

"We are alarmed at these latest hangings and call for an immediate investigation by the U.N. and national human rights monitors," said Paula Ettelbrick, executive director of the IGLHRC. "It's clear that a pattern is emerging in which young men are executed as couples and that the crimes they allegedly committed always involve some form of sexual assault of another male."

The "pattern" came to light during the summer, when the executions of two Iranian teens made headlines around the world.

"When the first reported executions came to our attention in July, it was nearly impossible to determine whether the two men were executed because of their sexual orientation," Ettelbrick said. But she added that the circumstances surrounding subsequent hangings demand "a response not just from the global LGBT community but from all human rights advocates."

IGLHRC said it has documented "specific conditions in Iran involving clear violations of human rights law."

In September the Persian Gays & Lesbians Organization (PGLO) decried the treatment of homosexuals in Iran, saying they are "usually subjected to extreme oppression and sometimes they are killed," adding that "only a small fraction of this violent homophobia comes to light."

In its Wednesday announcement, IGLHRC said it is working with other LGBT and human rights groups to seek details on the executions and demand that Iran "honor its commitments under international law to suspend use of the death penalty."

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religion,Iran,politics,atheism,homosexuality,Bible,Christianity