Britain and Amnesty International, the world human right organization, have opposed the passing into law of the law against homosexuality in Nigeria with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Lloyd, declaring that Britain would not condone such an action against a set of people who have chosen to live their lives the way the liked.
Amnesty International has also asked President Goodluck Jonathan to use his veto power to throw away the bill since, according to them, it is anti-human right and not popularly accepted around the world.
The Senate had Tuesday passed a law banning the public practice of homosexuality with the bill it signed into law stipulating a 14-year jail term for anyone who goes ahead to marry same sex and another 10 syear for any accomplice or anyone who goes ahead to assist in the process leading to such marriage.
The Senate President, David Mark, had claimed that the practice was against his faith as a Christian and warned the West to desist from interfering in the law making process of the country, which to him, should be allowed to run its independence without interference. His statement was in reference to the threat by British Prime Minister, David Cameron, that the country may cease its aids to Nigeria if the bill was passed.
However, Lloyd, in reaction to the stand of the Senate said his country would not tolerate the action of the Senate. Speaking after a courtesy call on the Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, the British High Commissioner said though every country has a right to practice its cultural and religious beliefs, the laws punishing expression of one’s sexuality should not be a yardstick for reprimanding or changing such individuals.
"It is wrong to punish people for mere expression of their relationships or for choosing to become what they have chosen for themselves. Punishment is infringement upon their fundamental human rights and the Western countries would not condone the action," he said.
Amnesty International said it had called on the Nigerian government previously to stop going ahead with the bill, which is now expected to go before the House of Representatives for approval, after which the President would give his assent. The body described its punishment as harsh and an opposition to the basic rights and freedom of individuals.
The organisation's Director of the Africa Programme, Erwin van der Borght, who spoke on behalf of the body, said: "Nigeria’s House of Representatives should show leadership and uphold the rights of all in Nigeria by rejecting this reprehensible bill. If passed, this measure would target people on the basis of their identity, not merely their behaviour and put a wide range of people at risk of criminal sanctions for exercising basic rights and opposing discrimination based purely on a person’s actual or presumed intimate orientation or gender identity."
Amnesty International also raised concerns that individuals could face imprisonment based mere assumption of intimate orientation or gender identity, or as a result of allegations about their relationship status or consensual intimate conduct. It also said the action would frustrate Nigeria’s efforts to prevent HIV transmission since the law would further force homosexuals to continue to operate in secret.
"By aiming to single out and deprive the rights of one group of people, this bill threatens all Nigerians by violating the country’s Constitution and international human rights obligations. This bill would have a chilling effect on a range of civil society organisations and events while inciting hatred and violence against anyone suspected of practising same-sex relationships, including lady-loving-lady, man-lover, bisexual, and transgender people," Erwin van der Borght
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