Iraqi Government Not Amused By UN Report

Aside from criticizing the 2006 casualty figure of 34,452 civilians killed as reported by the UN, the government is also upset at the mention of human rights violations affecting homosexuals. If this is the type of government we're spending our hundreds of billions of dollars to establish and attempting to secure, can I please get a refund for my contribution?

The report was superficial in dealing with several points," spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.

[...]

"The current environment of impunity and lawlessness invites a heightened level of insecurity for homosexuals in Iraq. Armed Islamic groups and militias have been known to be particularly hostile toward homosexuals frequently and openly engaging in violent campaigns against them," the U.N. report read. "There has been a number of assassinations of homosexuals in Iraq."

Such a topic is widely frowned at in this predominantly Muslim country and gays usually keep their sexual orientation a secret.

"There was information in the report that we cannot accept here in Iraq. The report, for example, spoke about the phenomenon of homosexuality and giving them their rights," al-Dabbagh said. "Such statements are not suitable to the Iraqi society. This is rejected."

"They should respect the values and traditions here in Iraq," he said.

Just lovely.