Nigeria's gay couples say they
feel more threatened than ever after lawmakers passed a bill outlawing
such marriages. If approved, any offender and supporter of such
activities could face up to 14 years in prison.
The bill passed unanimously by Nigeria's House of Representatives on Thursday also criminalizes public displays of affection between same-gender partners.
It also says "any person who registers operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations directly or indirectly, makes a public show of a same-sex amorous relationship commits an offence and shall be liable to a term of 10 years imprisonment."
Like in most other sub-Saharan countries, anti-gay sentiment and persecution of homosexuals is rife in Nigeria. Experts say the bill is likely to get popular support.
Rights taken
"It (the bill) takes away the fundamental rights accorded to Nigerians under the constitution," Rashidi Williams, director of Nigeria's Queer Alliance rights group told DW in an interview.
He says he is more concerned by the law because it targets even those outside the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. "If one just shows some alliance with persons from the LGBT community then they risk going to jail for 10 years," Williams lamented.
The bill which is awaiting President Goodluck Jonathan's approval to be made into law, permits for a much broader crackdown on lesbians and gay couples in the country.
Nigeria's LGBT community is already harshly discriminated against and most of them lead an underground lifestyle. Efforts by British news agency Reuters to get a comment from the presidency were unsuccessful.
Under the bill anyone who enters into a gay marriage or a civil union contract commits a criminal offence. Sodomy is already punishable under existing Nigerian federal law, however the crime referred to as "unnatural offence" which also covers getting intimate with animals and certain heterosexual acts has rarely been prosecuted.
Redefining marriage?
"Why is the government focusing on same-sex marriages when no one in the country is advocating for it?" Gay rights activist Rashidi Williams asked. He says all that the gay community is saying is "please treat us equal as every other citizen of this country."
According to Williams cases of blackmail and extortion on the part of the gay community are likely to surge because of the bill that has been passed. "People who have jobs would be sacked from their positions once their sexual orientation or gender identity gets known to their employers."
Jiti Ogunye, a human rights lawyer, told the French news agency AFP, the passing of the bill was nothing more but an unnecessary publicity stunt. "I call it legislative showmanship. This is really, really not a pressing national issue," Ogunye said. He argued that the politicians were likely seeking to defy mounting Western pressure over respect for gay rights.
Rethinking aid
British Prime Minister David Cameron has warned that his country will consider withholding aid from countries that do not recognize gay rights. The United States has also expressed concerns over the Nigerian legislation.
In 2012, US President Barack Obama ordered all government agencies that play an active foreign policy role to take steps to encourage gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights in foreign countries.
Such moves have previously helped to hold back or do away with anti-gay legislation in aid-dependent nations like Uganda and Malawi. However, this might not be the case with Nigeria, whose budget is funded by its multi-million dollar oil industry.
Nigeria's highly religious society supports tighter anti-gay measures. Africa's most populous nation with its 160 million people is roughly divided in half between Christians and Muslims.
The bill passed unanimously by Nigeria's House of Representatives on Thursday also criminalizes public displays of affection between same-gender partners.
It also says "any person who registers operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations directly or indirectly, makes a public show of a same-sex amorous relationship commits an offence and shall be liable to a term of 10 years imprisonment."
Like in most other sub-Saharan countries, anti-gay sentiment and persecution of homosexuals is rife in Nigeria. Experts say the bill is likely to get popular support.
Rights taken
"It (the bill) takes away the fundamental rights accorded to Nigerians under the constitution," Rashidi Williams, director of Nigeria's Queer Alliance rights group told DW in an interview.
He says he is more concerned by the law because it targets even those outside the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. "If one just shows some alliance with persons from the LGBT community then they risk going to jail for 10 years," Williams lamented.
The bill which is awaiting President Goodluck Jonathan's approval to be made into law, permits for a much broader crackdown on lesbians and gay couples in the country.
Nigeria's LGBT community is already harshly discriminated against and most of them lead an underground lifestyle. Efforts by British news agency Reuters to get a comment from the presidency were unsuccessful.
Under the bill anyone who enters into a gay marriage or a civil union contract commits a criminal offence. Sodomy is already punishable under existing Nigerian federal law, however the crime referred to as "unnatural offence" which also covers getting intimate with animals and certain heterosexual acts has rarely been prosecuted.
Redefining marriage?
"Why is the government focusing on same-sex marriages when no one in the country is advocating for it?" Gay rights activist Rashidi Williams asked. He says all that the gay community is saying is "please treat us equal as every other citizen of this country."
According to Williams cases of blackmail and extortion on the part of the gay community are likely to surge because of the bill that has been passed. "People who have jobs would be sacked from their positions once their sexual orientation or gender identity gets known to their employers."
Jiti Ogunye, a human rights lawyer, told the French news agency AFP, the passing of the bill was nothing more but an unnecessary publicity stunt. "I call it legislative showmanship. This is really, really not a pressing national issue," Ogunye said. He argued that the politicians were likely seeking to defy mounting Western pressure over respect for gay rights.
Rethinking aid
British Prime Minister David Cameron has warned that his country will consider withholding aid from countries that do not recognize gay rights. The United States has also expressed concerns over the Nigerian legislation.
In 2012, US President Barack Obama ordered all government agencies that play an active foreign policy role to take steps to encourage gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights in foreign countries.
Such moves have previously helped to hold back or do away with anti-gay legislation in aid-dependent nations like Uganda and Malawi. However, this might not be the case with Nigeria, whose budget is funded by its multi-million dollar oil industry.
Nigeria's highly religious society supports tighter anti-gay measures. Africa's most populous nation with its 160 million people is roughly divided in half between Christians and Muslims.
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Ogunye or whatever you call yourself keep ur dirty mouth shut. As for uk and us, to hell with their aides we don't need help from animals like them. Up nigeria!
ReplyDeleteThis people are devilish,does the Christianity they brought to us support this nonsense?are they confused or are they trying to confuse us?
ReplyDeleteNa d best thing wer our law maker don do 4 this regime.una 2MUCH
ReplyDeleteLGBT. How easy it is for Satanic ways to be funkified in today's crazy world.
ReplyDeleteSodomy is sodomy. No matter what name the Devil and its cohorts call it.
And for the imbecile Nigerians who are already whitewashed into this occultic lifestyle; they are doomed both in this world and in the hereafter!
Signs of end time, for those who are wise...
My people,there's no too much talk here o.Let them practise the 'same sex'thing in nigeria and face the consequence.As for the Rashidi William guy that's the gay activist,Just go and take get your head straight.If your Dad or Mum was practising sodomy do you think you would have been born to this earth?Am so certain that they are ashame of the part you have choosen to take. For me,anybody caught in such act should be stoned to death...Fools practise sodomy why clowns support them.
ReplyDeleteUK never brought true xtianity to NGR cos she didn't n still do not know Christ. They came to exploit us. Same sex marriage is unGodly and should not be practiced in NGR. We don't need their aid - what does uk have that she can give to other countries. Nigeria could even give them aid if our leadership was not bad.
ReplyDeleteWhen are we going to stop receiving aids from animals. Abeg change the conviction to life with hard labour so that they will be cleaning and washing and building Govt buildings. When their minds have been perverted, they are looking for others to corrupt.
ReplyDeletethe worst is that they are enjoying evil.
ReplyDeletethe worst is that the so called lecture only studied to deffend corruption.
gays shine your eyes
Any gay seen in Nigeria will face the wrath of the mob before the law even take its place. We Christians, Muslims and Trado practitioners don't support it here in Nigeria. Simple. Let those clamoring for it come to Nigeria street and repeat same. Then we will know who is talking!
ReplyDeleteIs Jiti Ogunye a homosexual?
ReplyDeleteI am a Nigerian and i remain a Nigerian. Same sex marriage is alien to man kind. In the days of Sodom and Gomohra, it was a marriage of same sex but an immorality of the highest order. We did not learn that the government of that time approved of it. Yet God was not pleased with it but judged the act. Today, governments are approving the highest abominable act. With the inteligence and generosity of American, many states have approved it. What a misnorma! What an error! Has the account of Sodom and Gomohra diappeared from the Bibles in America and Britain? Or did they think God will be partial to judge Sodom and Gomohra and not do it in our time? Up til today, no lesser animal - dog, goat, lion, Zebra etc will commit such high class abomination. But man think he is wise and unfortunately, unfortunately, some nigerians have sold their birthright to this evil. It is regrettable, It is painful, it is condemnable.
ReplyDeleteI like the fact d@ same sex marriage is unanimously condemned in d comments & in Nigeria. Those who practise it are under curse & the wrath of God. As for those who still practise such acts, my simple advice is for them 2 repent for the Kingdom of God is @ hand.
ReplyDelete