Abuja, Nigeria-

After assurances by the Nigerian government late last month that Boko Haram was engage in cease fire talks with the government and had agreed to release the more than 200 school girls abducted from their boarding school in April. A government aid to President Jonathan Goodluck expressed that officials were cautiously optimistic that these ceasefire negotiations would be successful. Families of the girls anxiously awaited reunion with their loved ones.

But as of yesterday, when a video of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, was given to the Nigerian government, this optimism was shattered. In the video, Shekau, dressed in military fatigues and flanked on both sides by militants, announced that the ceasefire deal was a lie, and that there was never any deal with the Nigerian government to release the girls, or carryout any of the other alleged agreements pursuant to the ceasefire. He also stressed that if there was a negotiator among them, he will be found out and “slaughtered,” and that Boko Haram will never negotiate with the government that it is unnecessary because Allah has told Boko Haram leaders that they do not need to partake in such engagements.

As for the fate of the kidnapped girls, Shekau laughed during the video when he announced that the girls will not be released. According to him, the girls have converted to Islam, have been married off, and are now in their marital homes. The girls have also, allegedly, memorized two chapters of the Qur’an.

The Nigerian government is in the process of trying to salvage the situation and determine a way to return the girls home. Needless to say, the recent video denying the existence of any negotiations between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government is embarrassing for the government, which had released the news of the cease fire and the terms. Certainly the situation undermines the credibility of the government, as well as the negotiating capacity it may have.

Recent attacks carried out by Boko Haram, which have included the kidnap of young women and girls, and left dozens dead, further substantiate Shekau’s assertions in his video that there were never any negotiations, and that the militant group has no intention of ceasing attacks. The group’s goal is to establish a caliphate in Nigeria and administer to the country through Sharia law. The group has also been fairly consistent in following through on threats, which is troubling, particularly in light of the Shekau video addressing the marriage, and conversion to Islam, of the kidnapped girls.

For more information, please visit:

BBC News- Boko Haram denies ceasefire claim by Nigeria’s government- 31 Oct., 2014

The Wall Street Journal- Boko Haram denies Nigeria’s cease-fire claim– 1 Nov., 2014

Al Jazeera- Missing Nigerian school girls married off– 1 Nov., 2014

CNN- Boko Haram leader denies ceasefire deal, says 200 abducted girls married off– 1 Nov., 2014

ABUJA, Nigeria-

The Nigerian government and Boko Haram, may have reached an agreement that includes a ceasefire and the release of over 200 schoolgirls who were abducted last spring, as well as a cease fire arrangement. In the agreement, Boko Haram will cease its bombing campaign and Nigeria will not target Boko Haram militant camps. Boko Haram, an Islamic militant group who’s name translates to “western education is forbidden,” has caused the deaths of thousands in its quest to implement Islamic Sharia law in Nigeria, and has ostensibly captured northern towns, with the hope of establishing and Islamic Caliphate. The Nigerian president, Jonathan Goodluck, has been repeatedly criticized for his inability to quell the violence and subdue the militant group.

(Families of the kidnapped school girls demanding their release)

This agreement offers a possible turning point for the violence in Nigeria. Although past agreements and cease-fire plans have failed, a presidential aide, Hassan Tukur, said that this time, most are “cautiously optimistic” that the agreement will be upheld. This optimism is in part due to the fact that Boko Haram released Chinese and Cameroonian hostages. Tukur asserts that this demonstrates a willingness to abide by the terms of the agreement.

But again, optimism is cautious. Cross-border attacks carried out by Boko Haram have killed over a hundred people this week. The group also staged and incursion in Nigeria with heavy artillery and at least on tank. This violence does not seem to demonstrate a willingness to “play by the rules.” Furthermore, as part of the ceasefire and release of the school girls agreement, it appears that Boko Haram has demanded that at least some of its militants be released from Nigerian prisons as part of the deal, which is arguably a serious request to make of any government. This would mean the release of militants that are classified as terrorists, as Boko Haram has been labelled a terrorist group by several states, including the United States, Japan, Great Britain, and the European Union. The release of these prisoners could be dangerous at best, and strengthen the power of Boko Haram, making it easier for the group to begin establishing Sharia law enclaves within Nigeria, with the ultimate goal of nationally implemented Islamic law. Alternatively though, it could offer Nigeria a chance to engage Boko Haram in a way that reduces violence and establishes a relationship that recognizes inter-party agreements.

The girls are to be released in increments, but until the substantive portions of the agreement come to fruition, there is no certainty in either party upholding the deal.

 

For more information, please visit:

BBC News- Nigeria and Boko Haram agree ‘ceasefire’ and girls ‘release’– Oct. 17, 2014

Voice of America- Nigeria, Boko Haram reach cease-fire, agree to free school girls– Oct. 18, 2014

CNN- Nigeria, Boko Haram reach cease-fire deal, kidnapped girls to go free, official says– Oct. 17, 2014

The Telegraph- Nigeria’s missing girls ‘to be released by Boko Haram,’ government aide claims– Oct. 17, 2014

MARRAKESH, Morocco

Ray Cole, and 70 year old British citizen, was jailed in Morocco for “homosexual acts.” Cole travelled to Morocco for a vacation with a Moroccan man, Jamal Jam Wald Nass, with whom he had developed an online relationship with in the preceding months. The two had explored Morocco; Cole had frequently updated his Facebook with pictures of the sites and cities he visited with his partner. On September 18^th, the two men were arrested at a bus stop in Marrakesh, after a police officer had approached the men for suspected homosexuality. After being brought to the police station, Cole and Nass were jailed for being gay.

Ray Cole- Photo courtesy of Express UK

Cole reveals that the conditions in the jail were horrible. He was forced to sleep on the ground, due to over-crowding, with little more than a blanket. Everything else, including his glasses, were taken away. Cole, who was jailed for nothing more than his sexual orientation, was held with men who had committed serious crimes, including murder. The British consulate worked actively to get Cole home to his family, and on October 2^nd, he finally boarded a flight back to the United Kingdom.

 

While Cole returned home to a country that allows citizens to exercise their freedom of sexuality, this episode underlines a serious cultural barrier for homosexuals in Muslim countries—homosexuality is criminalized. As a result, gay and lesbian individuals are forced to keep their identity an absolute secret, or deal with the ramifications of being gay in a Muslim country, which can include prison, stoning, and death. Furthermore, as briefly touched upon, the crime of homosexuality puts offenders in the same category as some of the worst criminals, including murderers. How can these two crimes be reconciled as equally egregious?

 

Film maker Abdellah Taïa uses his work to explore the pain, challenges, and heartache of being gay in Morocco, documenting how a mob had yelled outside of his home about raping him, and not a single member of his family defended him. This sense of abandonment is not uncommon for homosexuals in Morocco and other Muslim countries. Taïa urges that something must change legally and culturally in these countries, as the criminalization of homosexuality is not sustainable.

 

So while Ray Cole returned home to Britain after the ordeal of being jailed for homosexuality, many are still relegated to silence in order to preserve their freedom and lives. While homosexuality remains a crime in Morocco, people that identify as homosexuals will not be able to live without the threat of violence. Will the attention brought to the situation in Morocco by Cole’s experience benefit the homosexual community in this Muslim country?

 

For more information, please visit:

The Guardian- British man jailed for four months for ‘being gay’– Oct 5, 2014

The Guardian- Morocco releases British tourist jailed for ‘homosexual acts’– Oct 7 2014

The Guardian- Moroccan partner jailed with Briton for ‘homosexual acts’ freed– Oct 9, 2014

The Guardian- Abdellah Taia: In Arab countries, homosexuality is a crime. This has to change– Oct 3, 2014