Gay Nigerians face Sharia death
Eighteen men have been remanded in prison following their arrest for alleged sodomy in northern Nigeria, the state-owned news agency, Nan, reports.
The men were arrested in a hotel in north-eastern Bauchi state which is governed by the Islamic Sharia law.
The Sharia punishment for sodomy is death by stoning.
The men, reportedly wearing women's clothes, are said to have gone to Bauchi from neighbouring states to celebrate a "gay wedding".
Sharia judge Malam Tanimu ordered that the 18 be remanded in prison after they were arraigned before him on Wednesday.
Prosecuting police officer Tadius Boboi said the men's actions had contravened Sharia law, adopted in Bauchi and a dozen other states in Muslim northern Nigeria in 2000.
More than a dozen Nigerian Muslims have been sentenced to death by stoning and for sexual offences ranging from adultery and homosexuality. But none of these death sentences have actually been carried out as they were either thrown out on appeal or commuted to prison terms as a result of pressure from human rights groups.
But there have been two amputations in north-western Zamfara State which pioneered the introduction of the Islamic legal system in the country.
Story from BBC NEWS
No comments:
Post a Comment