BAGHDAD - Iraqi leaders are accused of turning a blind eye to a spate of murders of homosexuals after 25 young men and boys were killed in recent weeks.
Gay groups claim the Iraqi Government is giving tacit support to death squads targeting young homosexuals who venture outdoors.
In an unusual move, Amnesty International was to write to Iraqi President Nouri Maliki demanding "urgent and concerted action" by his Government to stop the killings.
Amnesty said the murders appear to have been carried out by militiamen and relatives of the victims, after being incited by religious leaders.
Homosexuality has always been taboo but a surge of killings followed religious leaders' sermons condemning "deviancy".
The violence came after the improved security situation briefly encouraged some gay men to start meeting discreetly in public. This led to furious condemnation from clerics who have called for homosexuality - which can lead to a prison sentence of seven years - to be eradicated from Iraqi society.
Most of the killings have taken place in the Baghdad suburb of Sadr City, controlled by an ultra-conservative Shiite militia. Murders have also been reported in Basra, Najaf and Kerbala.
- INDEPENDENT
Leaders accused of failing to act over gay killings
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