Lawmakers in
Nigeria passed a bill Thursday banning gay marriage and outlawing anyone from
forming organizations supporting gay rights, setting prison terms of up to 14
years for offenders.
Nigeria's
House of Representatives approved the bill in a voice vote, likely sending it
immediately to President Goodluck Jonathan for him to potentially sign into law
in Africa's most populous nation. Whether he will approve it remains unclear,
and both the United States and the United Kingdom raised concerns over a measure
that could put foreign funding for AIDS and HIV outreach programs in jeopardy.
Nigeria's
Senate previously passed the bill in November 2011 and the measure quietly
disappeared for some time before coming up in Thursday's session of the House.
Under previous versions of the proposed law, couples who marry could face up to
14 years each in prison. Witnesses or anyone who helps couples marry could be
sentenced to 10 years behind bars.
Other
additions to the bill include making it illegal to register gay clubs or
organizations, as well as criminalizing the "public show of same-sex
amorous relationships directly or indirectly." Those who violate those
laws would face 10-year imprisonment as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment