Entry 4 February 9th

Wielding Whip and a Hard New Law, Nigeria Tries to ‘Sanitize’ Itself of Gays

New York Times

Adam Nossiter

In Bauchi, Nigeria a young man cried out after being whipped 20 times on a court room bench. When it was over the mans side and back were very bruised. Still the crowd outside was upset because the penalty for gay sex in the Islamic law is death by stoning. "He is supposed to be killed" said judge Nuhu Idris Mohammed.

Outside of the courtroom the crowd is unforgiving in the North Nigeria metropolis. Where nine others are accused of being game by Islamic police are behind the central prisons high walls. Stones and bottles are being thrown at them and some of the officials said some of the mob wanted to set the courthouse on fire.

Since Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, sign a new harsh law against homosexuality. Arrests have of gays have multiplied. Gay sex in Nigeria has been illegal since British rule but convictions were rare. The new law bans same sex marriage and goes as far to 10 years in prison for people who directly or indirectly make a public show of a same sex relationship. As well is also punishes anyone who participates in gay clubs and gay organizations. Navi Pillay, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights says "Rarely have a seen a piece of legislation that is so few paragraphs directly violates so many basic human rights.   

It is unacceptable to for people to be punished for who they are. It does not matter what your culture is human rights apply to everybody. There is nothing wrong with with being gay and something should be done about it.