In Northern Nigeria, eighteen men were arrested at a hotel and charged with sodomy. The men who had come together to celebrate a gay marriage, were arrested wearing women’s clothing as they prepared for the wedding. The arrests occurred in Bauchi city, the capital of a Muslim state which enforces Sharia law, a legal system based on “Islamic theory and philosophy of justice.” Prosecuting police officer Tadius Boboi believes that the eighteen men’s actions have broken Sharia law.
If the men are convicted of sodomy, their punishment will be death by stoning. In the past, Bauchi state has enforced the death penalty for three people who were convicted of sexual offenses. Moreover, another dozen Muslims have been sentenced to execution for adultery and homosexuality. However, none of these sentences were carried out due to prisoner appeals. Moreover, other executions were impeded as the result of pressure from international human rights organizations.
Presently, forty people in Bauchi state are awaiting amputation of one or both hands for theft convictions. Additionally, many Muslims have been sentenced to flogging by horsewhip for drinking alcohol.
In Nigeria, homosexuality is considered a taboo by society. Furthermore, the law treats same sex marriage and homosexuality as illegal. Recently, the Nigerian government has also been trying to pass a law introduced by former President Olusegun Obasanjo which would ban gay rights organizations. Gay rights activists and human rights groups have called for the rejection of this law.
For more information, please see:
Pink News – Nigerian Men Could Face Death Penalty for ‘Gay Marriage’ – 10 August 2007
AP – 18 Men Charged with Sodomy in a Nigerian Muslim Court Could Face Death if Convicted – 10 August 2007
BBC – Gay Nigerians Face Sharia Death – 10 August 2007
