Human Rights: It's now officially against the law to be gay in Nigeria

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill on Monday that criminalizes same-sex relationships, the presidency said, defying pressure from Western governments to respect gay and lesbian rights.

The bill, which contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex "amorous relationships" and membership of gay rights groups, was passed by the national assembly last May but Jonathan had delayed signing it into law.

The law reads:

"Persons who enter into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union commit an offence and are each liable on conviction to a term of 14 years in prison," the bill says.

"Any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations or directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a term of 10 years in prison."

Sources: Reuters, Instinct Magazine, January 13, 2014

Nigerian law will cause asylum crisis as gays flee country

US Secretary of State and activists react to the signing of the ‘Jail All The Gays’ legislation by President Goodluck Jonathan

LGBTI Nigerians will flee the country, causing pressure on foreign asylum systems, thanks to the new ‘Jail All The Gays’ legislation.

That’s the verdict of gay Nigerian expert in exile Davis Mac-Iyalla, speaking to GSN after it was confirmed President Goodluck Jonathan had signed the bill into law.

The draconian legislation bans gay and lesbian marriage, outlaws anyone from forming organizations supporting LGBTI rights, and sets up prison terms of up to 14 years.

Openly gay people risk being imprisoned whether or not they have sex.

Anybody who knows somebody who is gay will have to tell the authorities or go to jail for five years.

‘I can confirm that the president has signed the bill into law,’ Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman Reuben Abati confirmed to AFP today (13 January).

He added: ‘More than 90% of Nigerians are opposed to same-sex marriage. So, the law is in line with our cultural and religious beliefs as a people.’

LGBTI activist Davis Mac-Iyalla said: ‘It came as a shock to me. What I expected, knowing the president very well, is he would carefully look at the bill and implications.

‘I am hearing the president was fully advised. I think the president signed it out of pressure. That is why there is no great publicity. If he had done something the Nigerian public wants he would have publicized it. They know this will cause problems.

‘This goes beyond same-sex marriage. They are deliberately targeting LGBT people and anyone who associates with them.

‘This will also cause trouble for the international community. This bill will cause panic and chaos. There will be an influx of LGBT refugees seeking asylum. It will put more pressure on the asylum system with people fleeing Nigeria.

‘Are they going to imprison visitors or refuse them a visa for being in a marriage or civil partnership?

‘This is a total abuse of the fundamental human rights of not only LGBTI Nigerian citizens but everyone who knows them and associates with them. What of parents, families, doctors and nurses and social services who provide services for gay people?’

The US Secretary of State John Kerry has also spoken out.

He said: ‘The United States is deeply concerned by Nigeria’s enactment of the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act.   Beyond even prohibiting same sex marriage, this law dangerously restricts freedom of assembly, association, and expression for all Nigerians.  

‘People everywhere deserve to live in freedom and equality. No one should face violence or discrimination for who they are or who they love.  

‘We join with those in Nigeria who appeal for the protection of their fellow citizens’ fundamental freedoms and universal human rights.’

International human rights and gay campaigner Peter Tatchell said: ‘This is a sad day for human rights in Nigeria.

‘It is a backward step that radically intensifies the already existing harsh anti-gay laws inherited from the era of British colonial rule.

‘The bill violates the equality and the non-discrimination clauses of the Nigerian constitution, the Commonwealth Charter and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, which Nigeria has signed and pledged to uphold.

‘This law is symptomatic of the many human rights abuses that prevail in Nigeria and which all Nigerians – LGBT and straight – have a common interest in overturning.’

And global gay rights advocate Omar Kuddus of GayAsylumUK, a GSN contributor, demanded to know if the international community would now act.

He said: ‘GayAsylumUK and I are concerned, now Jonathan has signed the most draconian new anti-gay legislation in the world, what are the world governments going to do in regards to those placed in this situation?

‘Are they going to offer asylum?

Source: GayStarNews, January 13, 2014

38 gay men arrested in Nigeria, 130 more to go

Human rights activists claim police have a list of 168 gay men in northern Nigeria and will arrest every last one

Dozens of gay men are being arrested in northern Nigeria, human rights activists have said.

The police have allegedly drawn up a list of 168 wanted gay men. 38 have been arrested in recent weeks.

They say persecution will increase since the law was signed by President Goodluck Jonathan signed the ‘Jail All The Gays’ bill.

The legislation bans same-sex marriage, criminalizes gay clubs and associations, and sets up prison terms of up to 14 years.

Openly gay people risk being imprisoned whether or not they have sex.

Anybody who knows somebody who is gay will have to tell the authorities or go to jail for five years.

Out of the 38, 11 men have been arrested in the last two weeks and charged with belonging to a gay organization.

Police have said all of them have signed confessions they belong to the group but some retracted their statements when they were charged by a judge.

Dorothy Aken’Ova is executive director of Nigeria’s International Center for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights.

She told the AP the new law will endanger and even criminalize programs fighting HIV-AIDS in the gay community.

In Bauchi state, police entrapped four gay men and tortured them into naming others, Aken'Ova said.

She said the arrests began during the Christmas holidays and blamed 'all the noise that was going on surrounding the (Same Sex Marriage Prohibition) bill.'

Jonathan’s spokesman Reuben Abati confirmed the president signed the bill into law yesterday (13 January).

He said: ‘More than 90% of Nigerians are opposed to same-sex marriage. So, the law is in line with our cultural and religious beliefs as a people.’

Source: GayStarNews, January 14, 2014

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