Free the Pakistanis Jailed on Suspicion of Gay Marriage

Free the Pakistanis Jailed on Suspicion of Gay Marriage

The Issue

Two Pakistani citizens, Malik Muhammad Iqbal and Rani, have been jailed on the suspicion that they tried to marry. Iqbal is a man and Rani, born as a man, identifies as a woman. They could face up to 10 years in prison for violating the country's law prohibiting "carnal intercourse against the order of nature."

The White House and U.S. State Department recently issued statements opposing the imprisonment of a similar couple in Malawi, which helped lead to the release of the couple on May 29.

Please urge the White House and State Department to condemn the imprisonment of Iqbal and Rani, and to continue to push for the decriminalization of homosexuality -- and of relationships involving transgender and intersex people, no matter how a country labels them -- around the globe.

avatar of the starter
Dana RudolphPetition StarterDana is the founder of Mombian, a leading blog of news and information for lesbian moms and other LGBT parents. She writes a syndicated column on LGBT parenting and also covers various other subjects for LGBT newspapers across the country. Additionally, she develops Web sites, blogs, podcasts, and other online content. Dana began her career in online business and marketing strategies during the first dotcom boom, and has worked at both the startup and corporate levels. Most recently, she was a vice president at Merrill Lynch, involved in the launch of several key online initiatives. She was also the first leader of the firm’s global LGBT employee network. Dana has a BA summa cum laude from Wellesley College and an M.Phil from Oxford University.
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This petition had 334 supporters

The Issue

Two Pakistani citizens, Malik Muhammad Iqbal and Rani, have been jailed on the suspicion that they tried to marry. Iqbal is a man and Rani, born as a man, identifies as a woman. They could face up to 10 years in prison for violating the country's law prohibiting "carnal intercourse against the order of nature."

The White House and U.S. State Department recently issued statements opposing the imprisonment of a similar couple in Malawi, which helped lead to the release of the couple on May 29.

Please urge the White House and State Department to condemn the imprisonment of Iqbal and Rani, and to continue to push for the decriminalization of homosexuality -- and of relationships involving transgender and intersex people, no matter how a country labels them -- around the globe.

avatar of the starter
Dana RudolphPetition StarterDana is the founder of Mombian, a leading blog of news and information for lesbian moms and other LGBT parents. She writes a syndicated column on LGBT parenting and also covers various other subjects for LGBT newspapers across the country. Additionally, she develops Web sites, blogs, podcasts, and other online content. Dana began her career in online business and marketing strategies during the first dotcom boom, and has worked at both the startup and corporate levels. Most recently, she was a vice president at Merrill Lynch, involved in the launch of several key online initiatives. She was also the first leader of the firm’s global LGBT employee network. Dana has a BA summa cum laude from Wellesley College and an M.Phil from Oxford University.
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton
Former Secretary of State

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Petition created on June 2, 2010