Meanwhile, in Abuja, a mob attacked gay people, the New York Times reports.
A mob attacked gay people in a neighborhood in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, dragging young men from their homes, beating them with nail-studded clubs and whips, and shouting that they were “cleansing the community” of gays, several Nigerian activists and a witness said Saturday.
The attack took place late Wednesday night in the Gishiri neighborhood, and one victim was beaten nearly to death, the witness said. Afterward, the mob of about 50 young men dragged four of the victims to a nearby police station, where the police further beat and insulted them, said the witness, who gave his name as John. His last name is being withheld for his safety.
That’s where homophobia gets you. Surprise! Preach hatred of people and you wind up with violence against those people.
The attack came in the wake of a new law signed by President Goodluck Jonathan prescribing prison sentences of up to 14 years for gay people. There have been recent episodes of similar mob violence in the Muslim-dominated north of Nigeria.
In Abuja, the witness and the activists said, some in the mob were shouting, “We are working for Jonathan!”
…
When the attack was over, the attackers wrote on the walls of the houses that were stormed, “Homosexuals, pack and leave,” according to an activist, Ifeanyi Kelly Orazulike, who went to help rescue some of the victims.
Activists said the mob violence was a sign that the new law appeared to have given mobs license to act on widespread antigay sentiment in Nigeria.
“The government has given a go-ahead authority to mob jungle justice,” said Mr. Orazulike of the International Center for Advocacy on the Right to Health. “This is unacceptable. You can’t attack people violently because of whom they choose to love.”
Bad times.
Meanwhile Gambia’s president calls for gays to be eradicated like mosquitoes:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/18/us-gambia-homosexuality-idUSBREA1H1S820140218
And Kenyan MPs have been grilling their Attorney General on why not enough people are being prosecuted under the countries anti-homosexuality laws:
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000104945&story_title=mps-to-summon-dpp-and-ag-over-anti-gay-laws
The current anti-gay climate in what seems to be all of Africa really is frightening.
The current anti-gay climate in what seems to be all of Africa really is frightening.
Yep.
And it may be just my imagination, but it seems most of Africa’s leaders need ti begin a robust Weight Watchers program.
Decker, culturally probably not. For in some parts of Africa, size is equated with wealth, power and success and applies to men and women equally. It’s a literal form of conspicuous consumption and shows they can afford it.