Gay Iraqi boy shot dead

Iraq is such a lovely place, isn't it? This horrific story is from Britain's Independent:

Human rights groups have condemned the "barbaric" murder of a 14-year-old boy, who, according to witnesses, was shot on his doorstep by Iraqi police for the apparent crime of being gay.

Ahmed Khalil was shot at point-blank range after being accosted by men in police uniforms, according to his neighbours in the al-Dura area of Baghdad.

Campaign groups have warned of a surge in homophobic killings by state security services and religious militias following an anti-gay and anti-lesbian fatwa issued by Iraq's most prominent Shia leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani...

The killing of Ahmed is one of a series of alleged homophobic murders. There is mounting evidence that fundamentalists have infiltrated government security forces to commit homophobic murders while wearing police uniforms.

Human rights groups are particularly concerned that the Sadr and Badr militias, both Shia, have stepped up their attacks on the gay community after a string of religious rulings, since the US-led invasion, calling for the eradication of homosexuals.

Grand Ayatollah Sistani recently issued a fatwa on his website calling for the execution of gays in the "worst, most severe way".

Don't get me wrong. I realize that Saddam committed heinous atrocities, and I'm not pinning the blame here on the U.S. or more broadly on the war and the American occupation. And I'm certainly not lumping all Iraqis together. I'm sure there are many who are outraged or otherwise saddened by this. The problem is that -- Saddam or no Saddam, U.S. or no U.S. -- this virulent current of anti-gay sentiment is alive and well in Iraq. Sentiment? Is that even the right word? This is hatred. Murderous hatred.

Here's Andrew Sullivan: "I have yet to hear anything from the major national gay groups. Surprise! Alas, I don't expect the Bush administration to protest this -- because they need Sistani so badly. But they should."

Yes, they should. But they won't.