Iraq

As technology continues to fill the gaps, dating apps have become a double-edged sword for the LGBT community in Iraq. While these platforms provide a space for communication and self-expression, there is a dark side that often goes unnoticed.

In the heart of Iraq, where social transformations are slowly changing, a new generation is emerging that is using dating technology to discover new ways to love and connect. Gay dating apps play a vital role in this context as LGBT people in Iraq seek to escape cultural challenges and restrictions. The dark side of dating apps in Iraq

This increasing emergence of dating applications is a step towards an effective change in the concept of relationships in Iraqi society. This digital medium provides a platform for LGBT individuals to express themselves and search for compatible partners. However, other concerns include the rise in scams and privacy issues. Despite the anonymity that dating apps provide, users can easily fall victim to deceptive practices. The dark side of dating apps in Iraq

Users of these applications talk about the challenges they may face, including potential prejudices in their communities and dealing with risks that also pose social and security challenges.

Saif Ali, 20, shares his experience “in a society where anyone can be killed because of their sexual orientation.” In this context, the great challenge is to meet gay individuals in the real world, especially in a society like Iraq, without resorting to dating apps or social networks. Dating applications, characterized by ease of use and quick access, contribute to providing a safe option for members of the LGBT community in Iraq to get to know other people in the same neighborhood or area. However, another aspect of these applications stands out, which is the lack of health and sexual awareness.

“When using dating apps in Iraq, the user is surprised by people who do not have sufficient understanding about homosexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, safe sex, and even the legal age for sex. In addition, many groups appear that practice bullying and promote hatred towards bodies that do not fit their standards. This situation creates a psychologically toxic and physically dangerous environment.”

Pedophilia

Most dating apps feature a bio below the photo, and many use this space to list desirable traits in a potential partner, such as age, weight, height, and educational attainment. However, something disturbing occurs when individuals state that their preferred age for a life partner is underage, setting the minimum age as fifteen years or less.

Since dating apps are considered the fastest way to meet close friends, there are many people who have not reached the legal age. Their goal is not to enter into romantic relationships but to meet friends or share experiences. Unfortunately, some individuals take advantage of these applications to exploit and attract teenagers illegally, posing a serious concern.

It’s essential to raise awareness about the potential risks and consequences associated with such behaviour and to prioritize the safety and well-being of individuals, particularly those who are underage.

“Since dating apps are considered the fastest way to meet close friends, there are many people who have not reached the legal age. Their goal is not to enter into romantic relationships, but rather to meet friends or people with whom they can share their experiences. They’re suffering, and some take advantage of these applications to exploit and attract these teenagers illegally.”

Impact on Mental Health

Dean, a 17-year-old gay young man from Baghdad, says, “When I was 16 years old, I was exposed to a serious threat through a dating app where I met a guy who was friendly at first. He did not arouse my suspicions due to his behavior and the way he spoke. Over time, he started asking strange questions about personal information, such as where I lived and where I studied. While he was building these conversations, he was collecting sensitive information.”

One day, the blackmailer sent Dean’s personal Facebook account, which contained photos of his family and friends. He started threatening him directly, expressing his desire to have sex with him or expose him in front of his family.

“This behavior surprised me, especially since we had not previously talked about these issues, and I had no expectation that it would reach this extent,” Dean said. “I had to delete all my accounts and lived in a state of terror and fear. A week later, one of my friends told me that he faced the same situation with the same person, and after a while, we discovered that this individual was luring and blackmailing many people in the community.”

In the realm of dating apps, a disconcerting issue arises as some individuals actively pursue sexual encounters with minors. When faced with rejection, these individuals resort to blackmail and threats, creating a distressing atmosphere for gay individuals navigating these platforms. The lack of legal oversight and anonymity of most users transforms these apps into a quasi-black market, encompassing not only content related to homosexuality but also concerning matters such as child sexual abuse, partner swapping, and various forms of prostitution.

This situation prompts a sense of anxiety and anticipation among gay users, who find themselves vulnerable to unethical exploitation and illegal practices targeting them directly. Despite the focus of many apps on catering to men, the broader implications of these platforms persist due to the opportunities they present for the sharing of illegal and immoral content.

Financial blackmail

Financial blackmail is a harsh reality in the world of dating apps for the LGBTQ+ community. “There are many people who are not from the LGBT community and think these apps are just a way to have random sex,” says Hayden, a 21-year-old gay man from the city of Najaf, southwest of Baghdad. On one occasion, he received a message asking for pictures of his sister at the beginning of a conversation. Another time, someone contacted him through these apps and proposed a transaction involving money for sex. The dark side of dating apps in Iraq

Many individuals exploit these platforms by using money as a means to fulfill their forbidden desires, offering substantial sums for one-night stands. Shockingly, they refuse any sexual or emotional interaction without financial compensation. The challenging economic conditions have driven some individuals to resort to these applications in pursuit of financial gain. The dark side of dating apps in Iraq

These apps have evolved into a breeding ground for extortion operations aimed at extracting money. Moreover, the politicization of moral and religious issues with the goal of denigrating gay people based on certain beliefs poses significant challenges in this context. The dark side of dating apps in Iraq

Limited support systems

Iraq lacks strong support systems for those who face challenges on dating apps. The lack of legal protection and community resources exacerbates the vulnerability of LGBT individuals who experience discrimination or harassment online. The dark side of dating apps in Iraq

Imad, a 28-year-old gay man from Nasiriyah in southern Iraq, says, “One day, I met a guy, and after a long period of getting to know him and going out with him, I suddenly discovered that my photos had reached several other people.” They started messaging me and threatening to publish my identity in the area if I didn’t have sex with them, leaving me helpless to find a solution. I became a victim of sexual assault and rape by a group of people multiple times, which turned my life upside down. “I couldn’t sleep for a long time , and to this day I hate that coincidence that led to their acquaintance.” The dark side of dating apps in Iraq

Extortion operations often take the form of organized campaigns carried out by specific individuals or entities to target the LGBT community in Iraq.

Elliot, 21, recounts his experience, saying, “I have faced blackmail several times through dating apps, the most recent of which was a while ago when someone contacted me. After a while, my photos and information were published on an Instagram page, including my phone number, location, and sensitive information that I had not shared before.” The dark side of dating apps in Iraq

He added, “I was asked to change my sexual orientation or disclose it to my family, and I agreed at that moment to get rid of it.” But after a while, he contacted me again and blackmailed me, asking me to pay money, so I deleted it. And yet, I don’t know what might happen. “When I spoke to my friend, he told me that I was not the only one, but that there were five other people who were exposed to the exact same situation, which suggests that what they are doing is part of targeted campaigns against us.” The dark side of dating apps in Iraq

Security and militias in Iraq

Dating applications are not only used by individuals in search of romantic relationships, but this technology has become a tool for use by some armed militias and security forces in Iraq. This type of technology is used to carry out phishing operations targeting specific individuals, whether for the purpose of killing or arresting. The dark side of dating apps in Iraq

Human Rights Watch reports, in its latest report entitled “Everyone Wants Me to Die,” that there are armed militias carrying out systematic campaigns using dating applications. Their goal is to lure individuals from the LGBT community, seeking to obtain as much of their personal information as possible. These operations depend on luring individuals and convincing them to meet in person, and this may sometimes take entire months. Through this long period of time, they aim to achieve a sense of security and build confidence between militia members and security forces involved in these operations. The dark side of dating apps in Iraq

Emad, a 28-year-old gay man residing in Nasiriyah, talks about his harrowing experience while using dating apps. During his trip to Baghdad, he decided to open one of these applications and met another person without revealing his identity as an officer. During their meeting in the Karrada area in central Baghdad, the person surprised him by pulling out a gun and asking him a shocking question: “Do you see the gun?” Emad threatened to put bullets in his head if he saw that he was committing unacceptable actions in that area again. This meeting left profound effects on Emad’s psyche, as he stopped getting to know anyone for two years. The dark side of dating apps in Iraq

Some individuals  turn to

the police as a way to escape extortion attempts, despite the high risks associated with them. The story of Ahmed (23 years old) from Basra sheds light on this situation.

Ahmed points out that a year ago, he received a message from a person who asked to exchange their photos to get acquainted, and after the exchange, he realized that he knew this person, as he was one of his relatives. The person started trying to blackmail him to force him to meet him or expose him. In the face of this threat, Ahmed decided to act quickly and cautiously and blocked this person immediately. The dark side of dating apps in Iraq

After a while, he received a message from a person to arrange a meeting, and when he met with the person who was wearing a mask at the beginning of the meeting, he discovered that it was the same person who had threatened him previously. He threatened to inflict injuries with an electric shock device. Ahmed did not know how to act to escape, but when they passed a checkpoint, he hit the glass asking for help, and when the police approached, he told them that he was kidnapped, without mentioning his homosexuality. The police intervened immediately, and he was rescued.

Ahmed says, “If they knew my identity, they would not have helped me like this. The security forces do not protect members of the LGBT community in Iraq. If the security forces knew that someone like me was there, they would practice all kinds of violence and torture against him.”

The reality that LGBT people in Iraq live through dating apps reveals great challenges and real risks they face. The experience of gay people using dating apps in Iraq takes a dark and complex turn, as they are exposed to various forms of blackmail and threats. In light of societal changes and social progress, there is an urgent need to promote the rights of gay people and protect them from discrimination and violence. The dark side of dating apps in Iraq