Iraq's Badr org. demands Western diplomats be expelled over unconventional flag

The secretary general of Badr Organization, Hadi al-Amiri, has called upon the Baghdad government to expel three “offender” Western ambassadors after a flag, which symbolizes homosexuality, was raised in the Iraqi capital, saying such a move contradicted the religious principles and moral values of the country.

“What the European Union mission, along with the Canadian and British embassies, did with the flag of homosexuals in Baghdad was an outrageous and improper act that violated the customs, traditions and ethics of the Iraqi society. It was also a clear and provocative challenge to the Iraqi laws,” Amiri said in a statement on Sunday as cited by the Arabic-language al-Maalomah news agency.

He added, “In the meantime, it is important to condemn transgressions of religious beliefs and Islamic rules. We urge the Iraqi government to immediately expel the three morally depraved ambassadors.”

Amiri further noted that the decision by the representatives of Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union blatantly hurt the sanctity of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, and constituted a wanton disregard for the feelings of millions of people.

This came after Iraq’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Sunday to “denounce” the raising of the flag, highlighting it was against “the noble morals of all divine religions.” 

“We remind all the missions operating in Iraq to comply with the laws of the country, and to follow diplomatic norms,” the ministry said.

Bashir Hadad, deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, also issued a statement, calling the hoisting of the flag a “clear provocation of the feelings of the Iraqi people.”

“We do not allow the hoisting of the homosexual flag on our land […] We have directed the foreign relations, religious affairs, and other relevant committees to take the necessary measures against this behavior,” he said.

The Alliance Towards Reforms parliamentary bloc – better known by its Arabic short form Sairoon and led by Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr – also called the act “unacceptable” and culturally insensitive during Ramadan.

“We refuse and condemn any behavior that contradicts the culture and religion of the Iraq people. We ask the European mission in Iraq to lower the flag,” read a Sairoon statement.

“We are in a blessed and holy month for all Muslims, and the foreign diplomatic missions in Iraq need to take into account the features of Muslim peoples,” it added. 

Likewise, many Iraqi people took to social media platforms, arguing the move ran counter to the values of the Iraqi community.

“U must respect the values & traditions of this community. #Hint: when we reject these actions that's not mean we're inhumane,” one user said.

“This is very disrespectful to the culture of Iraqi people and you can’t encourage tolerance by being disrespectful,” one user added.

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