Najaf court issues arrest warrant for political analyst over remarks on homosexuality

NAJAF – The Najaf Court of Appeals has issued an arrest warrant for political analyst Bashir Ghalib Al-Hujaimi on charges of “insulting religious sects” under Article 372/1 of the Iraqi Penal Code, according to a document released on Monday.

The warrant follows a complaint by Najaf Governor Youssef Kanawi, who filed the complaint after Al-Hujaimi claimed that Najaf has the “highest rate of homosexuality” in Iraq.

Law enforcement officers have been authorized to arrest Al-Hujaimi and present him to the judicial authorities in Najaf for the ongoing investigation.

Najaf, one of the holiest cities for Shia Muslims, holds deep religious and cultural significance. It is home to the shrine of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and the first Imam in Shia Islam.

In a televised interview on August 12, Bashir Al-Hujaimi stated, “Homosexuality is more prevalent in Najaf than in most other cities,” emphasizing that “Najaf has the highest rate of homosexuality and sexual deviance.”

He further asserted, “I stand by my statement… Ali ibn Abi Talib is innocent of what they claim, and innocent of those who legislate child marriages,” referencing proposed amendments to Iraq’s Personal Status Law backed by the Shia Coordination Framework, the country’s largest parliamentary bloc. Al-Hujaimi added, “Ask Ali ibn Abi Talib if he would accept this.”

Homosexuality remains highly taboo in Iraqi society, seen as a severe social stigma rooted in cultural, religious, and societal norms that deem it morally unacceptable. Accusations of homosexuality are sometimes weaponized to damage reputations.

In late April, Iraq’s parliament passed a bill criminalizing same-sex relations, with sentences of up to 15 years in prison, a move condemned by rights groups as an “attack on human rights.”