NIGERIA ANTI-GAY LAW 'LL FUEL VIOLENCE - UN SECRETARY GENERAL

United Nations' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern
on Wednesday at a new Nigerian law that criminalises same-sex
relationships, which he fears could fuel prejudice and violence and
risks obstructing an effective HIV/AIDS response.
The bill, which contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and
bans gay marriage, same-sex "amorous relationships" and membership of
gay rights groups, was passed by the National Assembly last May and
signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday.
"The Secretary-General fears that the law may fuel prejudice and
violence, and notes with alarm reports that police in northern Nigeria
have arrested individuals believed by the authorities to be
homosexuals, and may even have tortured them," Ban's press office said
in a statement quoted byReuters.
As in much of sub-Saharan Africa, anti-gay sentiment and persecution
of homosexuals is rife in Nigeria, so the new legislation is likely to
be popular. Many African countries are seeking to tighten laws against
homosexuality.
Under existing Nigerian federal law, sodomy is punishable by jail, but
this bill legislates for a much broader crackdown on homosexuals and
lesbians, who already live a largely underground existence.
"As UNAIDS and the Global Fund noted in a statement yesterday, the law
also risks obstructing effective responses to HIV/AIDS," Ban said.