Nigerian authorities today began arresting gay men after legislation was
quietly approved criminalising homosexuality and imposing prison terms up to
14 years for breaking the new law.
Several gay couples were taken into custody in the country’s majority-Muslim
north, and rights groups feared that others would be targeted across the
West African country.
Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s president, signed the Same Sex Marriage
Prohibition Act into law on January 7, but there was no public report of the
new law until journalists obtained a copy of the act on Monday.
It prohibits homosexuals from even meeting in groups of two or more, bans
marriage or civil unions between people of the same sex, and criminalises
gay clubs and events.
Reuben Abati, the presidential spokesman, said Nigerians were happy with the
new law. It makes Nigeria the 38th African nation to enact legislation
persecuting gay people.
“This is a law that is in line with the people's cultural and religious
inclination,” Mr Abati said.
“More than 90 percent of us oppose same-sex marriage, so it is a law that is a
reflection of the beliefs and orientation of Nigerian people. Nigerians are
pleased with it.”
The country already has legislation outlawing homosexual sex, and few people
in the country would want publicly to declare their love for someone of the
same sex in a marriage ceremony for fear of violent persecution.
This has raised questions over the motivation. Some have suggested Nigeria’s
new law and a proposed one in Uganda were a backlash to Western pressure for
gay rights.
Telegraph
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