The Netherlands has announced it will not deport Iraqi citizens in the country who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) for fear they would face widespread violence and possible murder if they returned home. The announcement from the Dutch government comes after they had been prepared to deport a large number of Iraqis, but human rights organizations raised red flags that a number of the community in the country were LGBT and could face death if returned home. It also means other LGBT asylum seekers could find a home in Holland, after the government said it would be opening its doors for the embattled community. Gay Iraqis have been the target of a number of attacks, including reports earlier this year of a massacre of LGBT youth in the country, which activists said was assisted by the interior ministry and the police. But, the LGBT Iraqis in The Netherlands must now prove they are gay in order to stay in the country through a series of interviews with Dutch officials. According to reports, the country's officials have warned that Iraqi LGBT people would face serious threats of discrimination as attacks on homosexuals are high. Koen van Dijk of the Dutch gay rights organisation COC described the announcement in Radio Netherlands as an “important victory for Iraqis who had fled the country because of their sexual orientation.” He added that Iraq is among the most dangerous countries in the world to be gay, if not the most dangerous. “Research has shown that 750 people have been murdered for this reason since 2003. There are systematic campaigns. Organized militias publicly declare that they're hunting down people who exhibit ‘deviant' behavior and should be killed according to Islamic law,” he said. But activists and gay advocacy groups have questioned the concept of “proving” oneself to be gay. Care2 reported that “EU immigration authorities have found it difficult to establish what truly constitutes proof of being gay without relying on lazy stereotypes.” Van Dijik acknowledges this issue as well, noting that “People will have to prove something they've taught themselves to disguise out of fear for their entire life. It will be a very tricky situation and the immigration officials carrying out the interviews will need special training." For now, however, the LGBT community is positive that the Dutch government move to offer asylum for Iraqis is a step in the right direction and they have called on other countries to implement similar policies.
