Jim Burroway of Box Turtle Bulletin has a clarification for reporters covering the nasty anti-gay law in Nigeria that just went into effect: Places like Michigan banned gay marriage. If a same-sex couple gets married in Michigan what happens is the state ignores the marriage. But Nigeria criminalized gay marriage. A same-sex couple who gets married there gets hauled off to jail where they sit for 14 years (if the experience doesn't kill them).
The new law also criminalizes everything related to being gay. And local law enforcement are already acting (some before the law was signed). Known gays are arrested and tortured to reveal names of their gay friends. Police confiscate cell phones and those are used to lure the friends. The list of names expands. If the police feel kind they might settle for bribes in exchange for letting the victim go.
Because the new law doesn't require much evidence there is a way for victims to fight back. When tortured for the names of their friends they should say it includes the policeman's brother or father, local pastors, politicians, city mayors, and anyone else in power.
More details of the law and its consequences here.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment