All articles tagged with #anti gay law
Burkina Faso's military-led government has passed a law criminalizing homosexuality, with penalties of up to five years in prison, making it one of the latest African countries to implement such legislation amid regional trends and ongoing political instability.
A court in Nigeria has granted bail to 69 individuals who were arrested in connection with an alleged gay wedding, which is illegal in the country. Homosexuality is generally seen as immoral in Nigeria, and the country implemented an anti-gay law in 2014. The suspects were released on bail after posting 500,000 naira ($645) each and are required to sign a register at the court once a month until their next hearing. The anti-gay law in Nigeria carries a prison term of up to 14 years for those convicted.
Two men in Uganda have become the first to be charged under the country's extreme anti-gay law, which carries the death penalty. The law, passed in May, criminalizes "aggravated homosexuality" and the "promotion of homosexuality," targeting not only LGBTQ+ individuals but also those who support them. Human rights advocates have condemned the law as promoting a "witch hunt" of sexual minorities, forcing many into hiding. The World Bank has criticized the law and blocked new loans to Uganda, while the US has imposed visa restrictions and is reviewing aid to the country. President Yoweri Museveni has defended the law and vowed to resist external pressure.
The World Bank has announced that it will not consider new loans to Uganda following the enactment of an anti-gay bill earlier this year. The bank has sent a team to Uganda to assess the situation and determine additional measures to ensure projects align with its environmental and social standards. The anti-gay legislation, which includes the death penalty for some homosexual acts, has faced condemnation from rights groups and the international community. Despite this decision, the World Bank remains committed to helping all Ugandans escape poverty and improve their lives.
The US has imposed visa restrictions on Ugandans accused of "undermining the democratic process" in Uganda after the adoption of an anti-gay law in the country. The law punishes homosexuality, including with the death penalty in some cases. The US State Department did not name any targeted individuals but said it would consider other possible actions to promote accountability for Ugandan officials and individuals responsible for undermining the democratic process, abusing human rights, including those of LGBTQI+ persons, or engaging in corrupt practices.
Uganda has passed one of the world's toughest anti-gay laws that calls for life imprisonment for anyone convicted of homosexuality. The new law levies harsher penalties for LGBTQ people and calls for the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality." The law has drawn swift condemnation from human rights organizations and LGBTQ rights groups in Uganda and throughout the world. The United Nations' Human Rights office called the law "a recipe for systematic violations of the rights of LGBT people & the wider population."
Uganda's parliament has passed a new anti-gay law that criminalizes anyone identifying as LGBTQ, making it the first law of its kind. The legislation also proposes tough new penalties for same-sex relationships, including death for so-called "aggravated" homosexuality and life in prison for gay sex. The law also bans promoting and abetting homosexuality as well as conspiracy to engage in homosexuality. Human Rights Watch has said the new law "would violate multiple fundamental rights guaranteed under Uganda’s Constitution and international human rights instruments to which Uganda is a party".