NIGERIA'S ANTI-GAY LAW Sparks International Outrage!
14
January, 2014
·
On
Monday, Nigeria provoked international outrage after President Goodluck
Jonathan ratified a bill outlawing gay marriage and same-sex unions under
threat of imprisonment.
Under the new law,
anyone who enters into a same-sex marriage or civil union can be sentenced to
14 years in prison while any such partnerships entered into abroad are deemed
"void". It also warns that anyone who registers, operates or participates
in gay clubs, societies and organisations or who directly or indirectly makes a
public show of a same-sex relationship will break the law.
"Only a marriage
contract between a man and a woman shall be recognised as valid in
Nigeria," the law states.
U.S.
reaction
United States
Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. were "deeply concerned"
with the development, as the new law "dangerously restricts freedom of
assembly, association and expression for all Nigerians". The act,
according to Mr. Kerry, is "inconsistent with Nigeria's international
legal obligations and undermines the democratic reforms and human rights
protections enshrined in its 1999 constitution".
"People
everywhere deserve to live in freedom and equality. No one should face violence
or discrimination for who they are or who they love," the U.S. Secretary
added.
UK
reaction
In Britain, the news
was met with equal disapproval, with gay rights campaigners describing the new
law as "one of the world's most homophobic laws," while advocacy
groups called it "tragic" and a backward step in the fight for equality.
Amnesty
International
Nigeria is one of 38
African countries — about 70 per cent of the continent — that have laws
persecuting gay people, according to Amnesty International. The
organization had urged President Jonathan to reject the bill, calling it
"discriminatory" and warning of "catastrophic" consequences
for Nigeria's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Nigeria
replies
Jonathan's spokesman
Reuben Abati dismissed global concerns, saying the law was consistent with the
attitudes of most people towards homosexuality. "More than 90 percent of
Nigerians are opposed to same sex marriage. So, the law is in line with our
cultural and religious beliefs as a people," he
added. "Nigerians are pleased with it."
Senator Domingo Obende
of southern Edo state, who sponsored the bill, said he was pleased the law was
now on the statute books and Jonathan's sanction was expected. "We knew
that the "President of Nigeria is a traditional human being, he's a very
moral person and a Christian, so we knew he would sign," he added. He also
warned the international community not to interfere in Nigeria's affairs.
"It's not a law to kill anybody. It's a corrective measure. Traditionally,
culturally, morally, Nigeria does not want this."
The
rest of Africa
The new anti-gay
marriage law follows similar legislation in Uganda. Homosexuality is also
illegal in our eastern neighbour, Cameroon, and punishable by up to five years
in prison.
Several African
leaders have warned they will not be dictated to on a subject that is anathema
to their culture and religion. Yahya Jammeh, the president of Gambia, has said
homosexuals should be decapitated.
In June, Senegal's
president Macky Sall argued with Obama about the subject at a news conference.
Sall said afterwards that other countries should refrain from imposing their
values beyond their borders.
"We don't ask the
Europeans to be polygamists," Sall said. "We like polygamy in our
country, but we can't impose it in yours. Because the people won't understand
it. They won't accept it."
No comments