Iran is the one of the few countries in the world that imposes the death penalty on individuals because they are gay or lesbian. Clerics in the Islamic Republic often pressure gay Iranians to undergo sex change operations, which drives many homosexuals to flee the country. An article that appeared at the Mohtasr website (Arabic link) yesterday provided a look at this phenomenon.
Gays and lesbians are not forced to undergo a sex change operation under official government policy, but the societal pressures to do so are numerous. Sex change operations are permitted by a religious edict or fatwa issued in the 1980’s by the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khomeini.
A psychologist who works in a government clinic said that doctors received instructions to inform gays and lesbians that they are “sick” and in need of treatment. Sometimes they also send them to senior clerics.
“There is a violation of human rights. It saddens me that such entities which supposed to have a humanitarian purpose and treatments are associated with the government instead of caring for people.”
Sahil, 21-year-old gay Iranian, said that doctors suggested he undergo a sex change operation, which his relatives told him he must complete if he wants to continue to be part of the family. Sahil eventually managed to escape to Turkey after realizing that he would either have the sex reassignment surgery or be killed. He said:
“If I was going to the police and inform that I was gay, my life was in a greater danger than the danger by my family.”
There is no reliable data on the number of sex change operations carried out in Iran. News agency “Khabar Online,” which is close to the Iranian government, reported that the number of these operations rose from 170 in 2006 to 370 in 2010, but a doctor at an Iranian hospital told the BBC that there are more than 200 surgeries annually in his hospital alone.
Many gay Iranians flee to Turkey since they do not need a visa to enter. From Turkey, they attempt to get visas to other countries.
[Photo: Angel Rodriguez-Rey / flickr]