PRESIDENT SIGNS ANTI-GAY LAW, ATTRACTS US CRITICISM

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday signed into law a bill
criminalising gay marriages and relationships, rebuffing Western
pressure over same sex rights and provoking criticism from the United
States.
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 but
the President had delayed signing it into law.
Presidency spokesman, Reuben Abati told Reuters yesterday that the
President has signed the bill in to law. As in much of sub- Saharan
Africa, anti-gay sentiments and persecution of homosexuals are rife in
Nigeria, so the new legislation is likely to be popular.
Jonathan is expected to seek re-election in 2015, but is under
pressure after several dozen lawmakers and a handful of regional
governors defected to the opposition in the past two months.
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.
United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, said the United States
was deeply concerned by the new measures.
"Beyond even prohibiting same sex marriage, this law dangerously
restricts freedom of assembly and expression for all Nigerians," he
said in a statement."It is inconsistent with Nigeria's international
legal obligations and undermines democratic reforms and human rights
protections."
While European countries, most recently France, have moved to offer
same-sex couples the same legal rights enjoyed by heterosexuals, many
African countries are seeking to tighten laws against homosexuality.
Britain and some other Western countries have threatened to cut aid to
governments that pass laws persecuting homosexuals, a threat that has
helped hold back or scupper such legislation in aiddependent nations
like Uganda and Malawi.