Death by religion
on August 10, 2007
Category: LGBTI, Human Rights, Nigeria
18 men have arrested in Bauchi State, northern Nigeria, on charges of sodomy. If they are found guilty the punishment is death. Even though previous guilty verdicts for sexual offences have not resulted in the death sentence, there is always a first time. As the LGBTI community in Nigeria becomes more and more visible, the higher the risk to their lives both from individuals and the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the suspects were arrested Sunday in a hotel in Bauchi and arraigned Wednesday before Justice Taminu Abubakar of the Bauchi High Court.
Prosecuting police officer, Thadius Boboi told the court that the men, who were wearing female clothing, had come to the city from five neighbouring states to celebrate a gay “marriage”.
He said the men’s actions had contravened the shari’ah penal code adopted in Bauchi and other states in muslim northern Nigeria eight years ago following the end of military rule.
I have been a little reluctant to report this story because it is difficult to know how accurate it is. There is one other case I have been told about but it is not yet in the papers and I wonder why some stories are being published and why others are not. Either way the case highlights the risks and fear under which people live. Earlier this year there were the outings of lesbians in a Ugandan weekly newspaper which led to women having to go into hiding for their safety. The worst thing about all of this because of the law and hostility no one is going to come forward and help you.
In 2005, in neighbouring Cameroon, 9 men where charged with sodomy and spent a year in prison awaiting trial. They were finally acquitted of all charges but were still forced to remain in prison by the presiding judge and were forced to stand trial again. Whilst in prison the men were repeatedly raped and abused.
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9 Comments so far
1. mohamed
August 10th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
“Whilst in prison the men were repeatedly raped and abused”
I’m sure they enjoyed that since that was their preference.
As for the 19 when you are living under certain laws in a certain place, respect those laws or face the consequences.
2. Sokari
August 10th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Mohammed @ With your logic then a heterosexual woman being raped by a man will enjoy it because that is her sexual preference? From under which stone did you crawl?
3. John Powers
August 11th, 2007 at 6:51 am
Thank you for blogging!
In Uganda’s The Monitor today is an article “Why police don’t arrest homos” http://www.monitor.co.ug/news/news08111.php accompanying the article are gay people in their own voices http://www.monitor.co.ug/news/news08112.php
4. Herbert
August 11th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
“A people without the history of their past is like a tree without a root”
It has long been said that man is a political animal.This age-long view appears clearer with the passage of time.In Nigeria pick-pockets,robbers (both armed and unarmed) are constantly being killed for stilling a loaf of bread,while pen-robbers are patronised and elevated.I believe and strongly too,that we have other more pressing issues at hand rather than pay attention to those who engage in filthy sex habits.The Nigerian government should remain focused on the plight of our people.People reserve the right to practice their sins in private.We are all sinners in our own rights and we should not impose our sins on others.We must not on the other hand, in the name of democracy and human rights impose or try to legalise our pleasure if they are offensive to the society.I have submited more than once that if the current trend continues and i suspect they will, sooner than later mothers,fathers,sisters,brothers etc, would be filling litigations,campaigning and propagating their belief and rights in going into marriages or legalised sexual relationships with eachother all in the name of democracy and human rights.They would sacrifice mankind on the alter of political correctness,uncontrolled sex-drive and sheer merchantile.
I strongly support the issue of separation between religion and state,but in doing so we must endeavor to strike a balance.My bible tells me that the world and its leadership is headed to the rocks.Events as they unfold only lends credence it.
As it stands,I bear grudge against no one and I do not intend educate people on how they should live their lives.And people should not and must not impose what has been known to a be secret,unpopular and untraditional life style on us,using democracy and human rights as a shield.
Aluta continua.
5. Sokari
August 11th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
John @ thanks I will post these up separately.
6. D
August 12th, 2007 at 9:09 am
Sokari,
Thank you for this blog. I have just discovered it and I look forward to spending time perusing the archives and to your future posts. Please keep up the great work and know that your voice is a light in the darkness in contrast to the terrible, hateful, and violent comments that fellow Nigerians feel so comfortable in making all over the net. Perhaps the state of affairs in Nigeria is karma for such attitudes… How can people be so blind and prejudiced against their brothers and sisters, their own people? How can Nigerians just blatantly and breezily speak as if death is a justifiable punishment for the “sin” of homosexuality? I feel so ashamed to share a nationality with these people. No place on earth is perfect but it’s attitudes like this that are my reason for not living there or having much to do with Nigerians even here in U.S. It takes so much even to get to a basic level of respect; that’s why I spend my time with people for whom that basic respect is not an issue.
There is so much I used to love about Nigeria but these comments and stories from others tortured across Africa make me sick to my stomach.
Keep up the good work and I look forward to sharing your blog with others. There is a problem within the Black community here, too. On New Years’ Eve I was at a party three blocks away from where a “gay” house was stormed and individuals brutally attacked. The papers then printed a story which had a photo of the house and the address. My Black male students have made homophobic comments in class and I work hard over the semester to correct their thinking because I just can’t bear the thought of sending them back into the world with the same level of hate and ignorance that they started with.
Well, that’s my two cents and perhaps somewhat negative and disheartened today but I do have more positive days!
Thanks again, Sokari.
7. ripley
August 15th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Thank you for your blogging, on this and everything. I’m working in Jamaica right now, and I see a version of the attitude of the first commenter here as well: many people seem unable to understand the concept of consent. Sexual availability and sexual aggression is assumed to be dictated by gender (or being identified as gay), and the concept of choice and consent is a far second. So rape and sex cannot be differentiated easily because people focus on who is committing the act before looking for evidence of consent.
8. Black Looks
August 26th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
[…] African LGBTI community has been under attack this week in Cameroon, Nigeria and in Uganda. Direland has an excellent piece on the crisis in all three countries. August has […]
9. Black Looks
September 18th, 2007 at 5:36 am
[…] August 18 men were arrested in Bauchi State, Nigeria on charges of sodomy. The charges of sodomy have now been dropped and have now been charged with “indecent dressing” […]