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Iraqis criticise Muqtada al-Sadr for same-sex marriage claims

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By Alex MacDonald

Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has been ridiculed for his suggestion that the coronavirus pandemic came about because of the legalisation of same-sex marriage. Writing on his Twitter account on Saturday, Sadr warned that the global outbreak - which has so far killed more than 35,000 people worldwide - would not subside unless governments repealed laws legalising same-sex marriages.

"One of the most serious things that caused this epidemic to spread is legalisation (same-sex marriage)," he wrote. "Hence, I call on all governments to repeal this law immediately and without delay."

The tweet by Sadr, who has a huge following in Iraq, received more than 10,000 likes - but there were also around 6,000 replies heavily criticising his comments.

Translation: "I am an Iraqi as well and I have the right to life and marriage like everyone else"

"Someone take the phone from his hands," tweeted activist Abbas al-Wadi. Aya Mansour, editor of Iraq Media Network, said coronavirus was "not as dangerous as your statements."

In a statement on Sunday, the Iraqi LGBT rights group IraQueer condemned Sadr's coronavirus comments, accusing him of "weaponising" the fears and anxieties of Iraqis.

"Making such ignorant statements will not only endanger LGBT+ people's lives, but will also put the lives of all Iraqis at risk," the group said in the statement. “The coronavirus is a pandemic that must be dealt with seriously and medically, and Muqtada al-Sadr's tweet will only distract us from what is really important, which is to save Iraqi lives." Read more via Middle East EyE