The story: Iraq’s parliament has voted to criminalize same-sex relations and other forms of what is described as “deviance.” The wide-ranging amendment to Iraq’s 1988 Anti-Prostitution law also includes provisions related to sex-change operations, prostitution, and the public promotion of such acts. The legislation has drawn sharp criticism from western governments and human rights advocates, and could disrupt the recent warming of relations between Baghdad and Washington. 

The coverage: The EU’s diplomatic service promptly criticized the measure as “discriminatory.” Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Iraq Alina L. Romanowski relayed on Twitter/X her government’s “concern” over...