The UN Security Council held its first-ever meeting on the persecution of homosexuals by Islamic State terrorists, Monday.
The closed-door session, sponsored by the U.S. and Chile,focused on LGBT rights and issues. According to cnsnews.com The U.N. Security Council heard from two homosexual Arab men, including a Syrian named Subhi Nahas who has been resettled in the United States. The other gay man, who fled Iraq, phoned in from the Middle East
“It was a very moving meeting,” U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power said after the session. “Again, we’re getting this issue into the DNA of the United Nations, but until today the Security Council had never broached this topic, and so today also represents a small but historic step.
“Everybody has read about what ISIL and what others are doing to LGBT people around the world, but it’s another thing entirely to hear personal testimonies. While others spoke, including members of the Security Council and other member States, photos also were projected that depicted what ISIL is doing to LGBT persons or those suspected of being LGBT.”
Power said that Monday’s meeting is a sign that this issue is getting ” …injected into the mainstream at the United Nations.”
Watch Power’s statement above.
White House NSC Spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement following the meeting, “… Today’s session focused on ISIL’s atrocities targeted against LGBT persons and those perceived to be LGBT in Syria and Iraq. In highlighting acts of horrific brutality that these individuals have endured, today’s discussion challenged the international community to develop better and more effective protections for LGBT persons …”
