ISIS Attacking Sexual Minorities
According to a CNN report, ISIS forces in Syria have been punishing sexual minorities, or those that they believe to be homosexual. According to a number of photographs,
The first ones show a large crowd, mostly men, but also among them a handful of women and children, all looking up.
Three men on top of a building, faces covered in black balaclavas, stand on either side of their victim, while a fourth seems to be taking a photo or video.
Their victim is thrown off the building. In the last photograph, he is seen face down, surrounded by a small crowd of men, most carrying weapons, some with rocks in their hands. The caption reads “stoned to death.”
This is not the only known case of ISIS going after someone because of their sexual orientation. In fact, “There are at least half a dozen documented cases of men being similarly killed by ISIS” (CNN, 2015).
This is obviously such a disgusting action carried out by this group. They are showing no care towards the rights of religious or sexual minorities. This group continues to terrorize individuals who do not fit what it is that they are looking for in their idea of a society. What is also troubling is that many of the people watching did not seem to react much to the incident (CNN, 2015).
Sexual minority must be protected throughout the world. It is imperative that activists get the support for the promotion and protection of members in the GLBT community. In addition, we must continue to speak out against such rights violations, and when done in the name of religion (such as Islam), we as a human rights community must speak out against such gross interpretations, pointing out instead the history of love and acceptance in Islam.
Sadly, the GLBT community in Syria has little protections. Violent Islamist groups here are punishing sexual minorities, and are causing them to fear for their lives. And because of this fear, people are having to leave their homelands. We must speak out against such human rights violations, and urge the international community (through places such as the United Nations) to immediately condemn such actions. Furthermore, we must continue to teach ideas of love and complete equality, whether in an Islamic, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Animist, or non-religious context.
