Iraq bans media from using term 'homosexuality,' says 'sexual deviance' must be used instead

Iraq's Media and Communications Commission banned all media and social media companies operating in the country from using the term "homosexuality" and to instead use "sexual deviance," according to a government spokesperson and a document from the agency.

The term "gender" was also banned on Tuesday by the regulator, according to Reuters. All phone and internet companies licensed by the commission are unable to use the terms in any of their applications.

The decision still requires final approval, a government official said later. A penalty for violating the rules has not yet been decided, but it could include a fine, an Iraqi government spokesperson said.

Homosexuality is not explicitly criminalized in Iraq, but members of the LGBT community have been targeted in its penal code.

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