Reuters —Iraq’s official media regulator on Tuesday ordered all media and social media companies operating in the Arab state not to use the term “homosexuality” and instead to say “sexual deviance,” a government spokesperson said and a document from the regulator shows.
The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) document said the use of the term “gender” was also banned.
It prohibited all phone and internet companies licensed by it from using the terms in any of their mobile applications.
The regulator “directs media organizations … not to use the term ‘homosexuality’ and to use the correct term ‘sexual deviance,’” the Arabic-language statement said.
More than 60 countries criminalize gay sex, while same-sex sexual acts are legal in more than 130 countries, according to Our World in Data.
Persons:
Reuters —, ”, …, ’
Organizations:
Reuters, Iraqi Communications and Media Commission
Locations:
Iraq, Sweden, Denmark