Reports of emo youth and LGBT people ‘being massacred in Iraq’

It appears that attacks have been taking place in Baghdad as well as in several in southern provinces.

Emo, short for emotional or emocore is a US originated hardcore punk-rock music that appeared in the 80s attracting mostly teenagers. According to a report by a local LGBTQ activist the first murder occurred on 6 February in Sadr City district in Baghdad, the last was reported on 7 March of two female victimsin their 20s from Shaab district of Baghdad.

Moral panic has been stirred up by militias about emo youth for the last year, alleging they are adulterers, Satanists, vampires and sexually depraved.

An Iraqi source has testified said militias had warned emo youth and LGBT people that they would kill them a month ago. Posters containing the threats were put in cafés and on street corners in Baghdad.

In Baghdad local media reported massacres of emo youth and LGBT people occurring in the districts of Sadr, Chaala, Albaladiat, Baghdad Al-Jadedah, Karadah and Kadhymia. The number of victims claimed ranges from 56 to 100.

An Iraqi LGBTQ activist reported an eyewitness account about a method used to murder victims by hitting their heads and body parts with concrete blocks repeatedly until death.

Another method, reported by Iraqi media, involves pushing off the tops of high buildings.

In addition five survivors were murdered inside hospitals according to a confidential witness, cited in the activist’s report.

According to the same LGBTQ activist, at least 45 victims had been killed (mostly gay men in Baghdad only) according to family members and medical staff in some hospitals.  Read More