Ali Hili.

In October 2005 the spiritual leader of Iraq's Shia Muslim majority, the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, issued a fatwa prescribing that "people involved" in homosexuality "should be killed in the worst, most severe way of killing," As a result, death squads began systematically murdering Iraqi gays. Ali Hili, 33, a gay Iraqi who fled to the United Kingdom in 2002, is the founder of a London-based group of gay Iraqi exiles. Iraqi LGBT-U.K.

How has Sistani's death-to-gays fatwa affected daily life for gay Iraqis?

Basically, gay men have gone into hiding, fearing for their lives and daily attacks and assassinations from fanatical followers of Sistani. They have limited or no access to any activities of daily life and cannot even venture out for basic necessities like food or work.

Who is behind the death squads killing gays in Iraq?

The Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq and its military organization, the Badr Corps, which is financed by Iran. SCIRI venerates Sistani as their spiritual leader.

How did life for gays under Saddam Hussein differ from their situation today under American occupation of Iraq?

While America proclaims it's bringing democracy to Iraq, real life has been radically altered. Under Saddam, though we had a tyrannical government, homosexuals were allowed some sexual freedom, a certain tolerance in Baghdad, as long as it was not an in-your-face sexuality. We were constricted, but we did not have outright fear for our lives. In contrast, today every gay person fears being killed.

What does your group, Iraqi LGBT-U.K., do?

The group's main purpose is to support other gay men inside Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries documenting atrocities against this unseen community. It's difficult to get people to come forward, as Iraqi gays have their phone conversations listened to and are being entrapped via the Internet. Suspected gays are under surveillance. It's a witch hunt in Iraq, with reports of gays being tortured or killed daily and weekly. We collect evidence so that human rights organizations can take notice of the awful crimes that are being committed in the name of this religious ideology.

What can American gays do to help gay Iraqis?

While the U.S./U.K. government spin machine would like people to believe that things are improving, gays' lives are worse now than they ever were under sanctions and Saddam. American gays can get the word out, admit that these things are happening, and call for change. Don't forget that your gay brothers and sisters in Iraq live every minute in fear that they may not see the next day.