"Beyond even prohibiting same sex marriage, this law is dangerously
restricts freedom of assembly... and expression for all Nigerians,"he
said in a statement.
Nigerians president Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill on Monday that
criminalizes same-sex relationships,defying western pressure over gay
right and provoking US criticism.
The bill,which contains penalties of up to 14years 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 Jonathan
had delayed signing it into law.
A presidential spokesmen told Reuters he had now done so. 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.
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
Nigeria federal law,sodomy is punishable by jail, but this bill
legislates for a much broader crackdown on homosexual people,who live a
largely underground existence.
