The
secretary-general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon has pled with Nigeria to review
its recent ban of homosexuals and same-sex marriages, fearing that it may lead
to prejudice and violence.
Under the law, same-sex couples who live together or
attempt to solemnize their union with a ceremony can be punished with 14 years
in prison.
“The secretary general strongly hopes that the
constitutionality of the law can be reviewed,” spokesman for the UN chief,
Martin Nesirky said.
Ban “fears that the law may fuel prejudice and
violence” and also believes that it “risks obstructing effective responses to
HIV/AIDS,” Nesirky said.
He also added that Ban has expressed concern over
“reports that police in northern Nigeria have arrested individuals believed by
the authorities to be homosexuals, and may even have tortured them.”
Five men have appeared in court in the northern
Nigerian state of Bauchi for allegedly forming a gay club, a court official
said on Wednesday.
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