We do know that there are 128 people condemned to death in Iraq.
We do know that the Iraqi Court system is dysfunctional.
We do know that the Iraqi Court system is secretive.
We do know that Amnesty Intl. has called for the names of the condemned and the charges levied against them, in order to verify the circumstances of the verdicts and the alleged crimes.
We do know that a London based Iraqi group has claimed that some proportion of the 128 condemned were condemned solely on the basis of their sexual orientation.
The conflict in information is between two sources:
The story in the Edge quotes a State Department Source versus a member of the London based group IraqiLGBT, a Mr. Ali Hili.
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=&sc3=&id=89141According to the State Department:
"There have been no executions of criminals since 2007, added Fleming, who also noted that any criminals now awaiting possible execution are there for crimes such as "terrorism, insurgency and kidnapping." Their sexual identity is irrelevant to the charges, he said."
According to Mr. Ali Hili:
"Hili asserts that the prisoners face execution from the Iraqi government in groups of 20 starting this week, according to UK Gay News, and that a total of 128 Iraqis accused of being gay face death."
.........
That does not prove that the story is "bullshit."
It does point to the fact the internet is not an irrefutable source and cross referencing this story to see if other NGO’s have picked it up is prudent.
There are some concerns with this story.
According to the Edge, Mr. Hili told the UK Guardian that 128 gays are scheduled for execution.
In an interview with the UK based gay blog/newspaper,"Pink Paper," he is quoted as saying 5 out of the 128.
"Iraq is planning to start executing 128 people this week, many of who are thought to be gay.
Iraqi LGBT, a UK-based organisation of Iraqis which tries to protect queers in the country, says that five (5) of the people on death row are their campaigners in Iraq. And they believe that many more are gay."
http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=858 ........
What we have is an emotionally charged story of an impending terrible human rights violation, in country that is pretty much impervious to outside verification.
There are some inconsistencies about the actual number of condemned gays from Mr. Hili's interviews, is it 5 or 128?
There is an opposing position from our State Dept., Mr. Fleming.
As of this thread, it is basically Hili vs. Fleming. That appears to be a draw.
Fleming may be trying to save face for the govt. or simply be unaware of the situation on the ground in detail. While Mr. Hili may have inside information few are privy to.
There needs to be verification from other sources, outside of the IraqiLGT source from some accepted NGO, like Amnesty Intl., or the UNHRC or any other NGO or GO, to corroborate this story and to back up Hili.
In the meantime, absence of verification is not falsification.
Iraq is closed off to foreigners and even NGOs like Amnesty are not on the ground there.
People here have signed a petition on the assumption (among others, I suspect) that there is more harm in ignoring a potential atrocity, then there is in signing a petition.
No one has conclusively shown that this is "bullshit" simply because, sadly, the main opposing opinion comes from a source that some would find suspect. Many find guys like Fleming suspect and pardon some of us for not believing that some in official places would lie to the public to avoid an untimely political embarrassment.
Also, Hili may know more about detailed inside information about Iraq, than Fleming.
On the other hand, aside from the petition, due diligence is warranted before sending donations to Hili say versus, some well established international NGO.