Influential Iraqi cleric launches anti-LGBTQ campaign

By ABBY SEWELL and ANMAR KHALIL
KUFA, Iraq

An influential Iraqi cleric who announced his withdrawal from politics four months ago has broken a period of relative silence to launch an anti-LGBTQ campaign. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr posted a statement on Twitter Wednesday calling for “believing men and women [to] unite all over the world to combat (the LGBTQ community).”  After Friday afternoon prayers, al-Sadr’s followers lined up outside of mosques around the country to sign a pledge to “stand against (homosexuality) or (LGBTQ) by ethical, peaceful and religious means.” Despite the campaign’s nominal commitment to non-violence, LGBTQ people fear that it will lead to more harassment and abuse in a country where their identity already puts them in danger.