Suspected Gay Men Forced To March Naked Through Nigeria's Capital Before Being Beaten By Police And

[William769]

Two Violent Mobs

The situation in Nigeria for its gay citizens continues to deteriorate. In early February, shortly after the African nation officially criminalized homosexuality, a suspected gay couple was forced to have sex in front of an angry mob. But late last week and over the weekend the violent mob rule intensified.

In Abuja, Nigeria's capital, a mob of more than 50 people forced 14 suspected gay men to march through the streets naked last week. Once in the Gishiri neighborhood, the mob beat the men with nail-studded clubs, whips, iron bars and anything else that could be weaponized. Police joined the mob in beating the men, with one man nearly dying from the injuries he sustained.

"They all had weapons," one witness said. "Some were having wires, whips. Some had broken furniture. They said they wanted to kill. They were moving around from one person's house to another."

Following the attack, the mob wrote "Homosexuals, pack and leave" on the homes of the men they assaulted.

http://instinctmagazine.com/post/suspected-gay-men-forced-march-naked-through-nigerias-capital-being-beaten-police-and-two

[MADem]

1. WTF is up lately? So much hate. So stupid. nt

[William769]

2. Looks like Russia is paying off.

[MADem]

3. Hate to say it, but I think you're right.

People are emboldened that Russia could get away with acting like (pardon my French) fucking bigots in front of the ENTIRE world, with insufficient pushback.

[William769]

4. exactly!

And they have a world stage right now.

[RKP5637]

40. And we're suppose to respect them, well fuck that! n/t

[atreides1]

8. Not Russia

American Evangelical "Christians" like Scott Lively...imported their hatred of the Gay community to places like Nigeria and Uganda.

[William769]

10. Don't forget Catholics.

They are the highest rated group over there.

But then again yes it is Russia, they have the biggest bully pulpit right now (the Olympics) also with them being on the world stage to begin with they are the biggest culprit.

Spin it anyway you like, those are the facts.

[former9thward]

75. Is Ralph Nader to blame for this too?

If anything it a legacy of the British.

Most of sub-Saharan Africa that were under British colonial rule have laws that criminalize homosexuality. And we need to kind of understand the history of this. And the reality is it's a curious consequence of British colonial rule, that the British left a legacy of these laws that criminalize gay sex. It was an obsession of the British in the 19th century to criminalize gay sex. You have this extraordinary statistic that out of 53 commonwealth countries that there are, 42 of those countries criminalize homosexuality. And that just gives you a sense of the extent to which this is a British colonial legacy.

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/18/263651508/nigeria-passes-harsh-anti-gay-law

It has nothing to do with Russia.

[Laelth]

76. Excellent post. Thanks. n/t

-Laelth

[MADem]

45. It's all of a piece, you see.

Timing is everything, too.

The International Olympic Committee has pooh-poohed any discussion of "politics" at the Olympics....but they confuse "politics" with "human rights," that's the bottom line.

That kind of thing creates what is perceived as a "safe" environment for Uganda and Nigeria to act like bigoted assholes.

[riderinthestorm]

22. I don't think so. Wish it were that simple

Unfortunately I think this is a result of hardline Islam which is currently clashing with the Christians in Nigeria resulting in catastrophe for the LGBT community. It would probably be a lot easier to blame Russia but unfortunately I think the problem is much, much more entrenched.


http://blogs.cfr.org/campbell/2014/01/15/nigerians-circle-the-wagons-against-west-on-anti-gay-law/

In the face of criticism of Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, some Nigerians are using the anti-gay legislation as a push back against alleged “western cultural imperialism” As a Roman Catholic spokesman said, opposition from the American government should be no surprise because “…the West which had done everything to sell their cultures to Africa will stop at nothing to want to impose such beliefs on the African continent which is always going to the West for financial aids and loans.” Indeed, many Nigerians see the anti-gay legislation as a reaffirmation of core African–and Nigerian–values.

And back in early 2012, Nigeria was already acknowledged as one of the worst nations for the abuse of the LGBT community...

http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/press-releases/european-parliament-calls-on-nigeria-to-stop-persecuting-lgbt-people/

Michael Cashman MEP, Co-president of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights, commented: “Nigeria is already among the world’s top oppressors of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Why such a law now? Nigeria needs to follow the example of countries like Rwanda, Kenya or South Africa, which prove African nations don’t need to persecute the vulnerable in order to strive.”

[RKP5637]

52. Why the US supplies these nations with $$$$$ is beyond me. Some have said it's

done because the US sees profits from it, eventually. IMO ALL US foreign aid should be cut off to these countries.

[cali]

27. this predates russia.

[Luminous Animal]

66. Yeah. But Russia is are retro boogie man so lets ignore U.S. long historical involvement.

in this utterly saddening hatefest. The U.S. evangelical community is, by far, more culpable in this than Russia.

[dbackjon]

51. Onward Christian and Muslim soldiers

All religious hate from the two religions of hatred

[shenmue]

5. Someone needs to bring a case to the Hague

This is a crime against humanity.

[LuvNewcastle]

6. Something's got to be done about this.

Can anyone from the UN step in and mediate this crisis? It's out of hand all over Africa and Asia, but these latest examples from different African countries are particularly horrific. I really wish I could do something.

[bluestateguy]

60. The UN is impotent and worthless

I'm sure that will put all this to a stop right quick: a bunch of French and Belgian security guards wearing UN helmets riding around Nigeria in UN golf carts.

Please.

[sufrommich]

7. Oh my God.

Shades of Nazi Germany.

[atreides1]

12. Not Nazi Germany...Not Yet!

The wet dreams of the American Right Wing Evangelical Christians...they can't have this kind of thing here in the US so they've exported their hate to several countries in Africa.

But, in time it'll begin to happen here as well...

[William769]

15. Over my fucking dead body!

[louslobbs]

30. And mine as well William. And just what do they think we're going to do while they're trying to

force us back into the closet? NEVER AGAIN!
Lou

[sufrommich]

17. Well,if it happens here it will have to happen

over my (and millions of others) dead body.

[LuvNewcastle]

19. The only way that would happen is if the country split into pieces.

If that ever happens, I'll get out of this piece really fast.

[NuclearDem]

29. The hell it will.

They try pulling that barbaric shit here and there'll be riots, and I'll be there.

[RKP5637]

36. I will take up arms to stop that, I don't care if we have another fucken civil war it that's

what it takes to preserve decency on this spinning ball of dirt. I'm really fed up with fuckers like this! The hell with the christian Taliban! For them, this is a very proud day!

[Sissyk]

56. Oh no, atreides1.

That WILL NOT HAPPEN here.

[JoeyT]

65. Actually it's going in the opposite direction.

The bigots are getting louder and stupider and more hateful because they feel their grip slipping away. The kids growing up now? They support LGBT rights in higher numbers than the generation before them, who support it in higher numbers than the one before them, and so on.

It would take a massive...and I do mean a massive shift for them to manage that.

[theHandpuppet]

9. American companies doing major business in Nigeria

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/as-ge-s-investment-showcases-us-interest-in-nigeria/162271/

General Electric
Chevron
Mobil
Microsoft
Apple
Google
Intel
Coca Cola
Procter and Gamble

[TDale313]

13. Thanks for that.

[LuvNewcastle]

16. Yes, thanks. I can try that at least.

[RKP5637]

35. Yep, as usual, it's $$$$$ first, humanity last! n/t

[TDale313]

11. Words just fail...

Just horrific.

[Luminous Animal]

14. This is so horrible.

[TBF]

18. I watch my facebook feed

with horror as people I know cheer on the Olympics. I have warm feelings for the skier who is bringing back the stray puppies, but I still won't watch him in these games. To watch is to give the country viewers and I refuse to do that with their current human and animal abuses. Putin is a monster.

[William769]

20. ...

[RKP5637]

33. Putin is the KGB and I think he loves stuff like this. n/t

[MadrasT]

21. What the hell?!

The amount of irrational hate in the world makes me feel very...

...very...

...sad.

[RKP5637]

31. In my lifetime, the world seems to have become a far more hateful place. I find it

often incredible reading the comments on various news websites, just unbelievable. Each day I wonder, WTF next. My question is, why do we still give money to Ugunda. Apparently, as some people have said, it's an investment by the US looking for payback in profits of some sort. If so, that further confirms my feeling that often it's $$$$$ first, humanity last.

[JI7]

23. are things getting worse in some parts of the world ?

or are we just hearing about it more ?

[RKP5637]

32. I wonder about that too, probably it's both. n/t

[geek tragedy]

24. Someone call Pope Frank, I'm sure he'll be outraged over this and will implore

Nigerian Catholics to stop this injustice.

[William769]

25. Well he will be in Uganda in October.

[theHandpuppet]

34. His Bishops and Archbishops have backed the anti-gay laws...

... in both countries and Cameroon as well, where there has been widespread anti-gay violence.

[MissB]

26. Truly awful.

Things aren't perfect here, but I'm grateful to be an American.

[RKP5637]

28. A Proud Day for the US Christian Taliban! n/t

[louslobbs]

37. Why don't they all just move then to a place more in line with their "morals"? There seems to be

lots of places with more hatred and bigotry than there is in America. Why not just go where you feel more at home and where the bigotry is legal? They might have a problem with the skin color of most of the people, but I'm sure that in time that too could be morally legislated.
Lou

[RKP5637]

41. Definitely what should be done. They need to go where they will be happy killing and

maiming people for no F'en reason.

[louslobbs]

43. I'd be happy to start a fundraising drive to help pay for their moving expenses. n/t

Lou

[bluestateguy]

58. As a Christian myself

I can tell you that these thugs will have to answer before a very angry God someday.

They have no right to claim to be followers of Jesus.

[RKP5637]

61. I was raised with, for lack of a better way to say it, the good Christian faith. I never

heard anything like these cretins say today. Our church was about love, kindness and acceptance. I retained all of the good things I learned although I am really not a religious person.

I was taught the devil often works in disguise. To me, these individuals are cretins from hell, disciples from hell. They do not practice Christian religion, but rather they use religion as a cover, a mask, a tool so as to practice their cults of hatred and persecution.

I have news for them, when the judgment day comes, they will not be judged well and rather than the gates of heaven, they will enter the gates of hell.

[one_voice]

38. I hate people..

K&R

[RKP5637]

44. I've grown to really dislike a lot of people. It's sad for me, I use to be open and

friendly to just about anyone, but now I've become more guarded and cynical, and just fed up with so many people. I just think the asshole count in the world has gone up drastically in my lifetime. Anyone tells me they're republican, I'm immediately cautious, same for those that wear a badge of religion on their arm.

[TheMathieu]

39. Sigh.

We need to start providing asylum for LGBT persons.

[LuvNewcastle]

42. I agree. That's a temporary solution, though.

More gay kids are growing up every day over there.

[countryjake]

46. Kicking with absolute horror!

and recommending with the hope that it might actually be seen amongst all the other crap that seems to have taken over this forum.

[LuvNewcastle]

47. +1000 n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. We, and I mean the advanced economies, need to intervene

this is the beginning of genocide. (And by the way, this is the problem with Russian laws too)

And some of our RWNJ wish they could do this.

[William769]

49. Agreed.

[RKP5637]

54. Yep, we've got plenty of RWNJ's in this country just looking for opportunities. n/t

[DeSwiss]

50. K&R

[bluestateguy]

53. This is why there need to be limits to the whole LW mantra about "respecting other cultures"

No, I will not respect homophobia, abusing women and religious hate just because it is their "culture".

[RKP5637]

55. Exactly the same here! n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

62. Respecting other cultures, does not include genocide,

but nice hippie punching there pal.

[certainot]

57. i'll bet there's some right wing radio involved- they've exported this very effective US model

an anti gay hate journalist i heard on nicole sandler subbing randi rhodes says he heard the russian bigots with talking points, in english, right off the US rw blogs -i'll bet it's similar in nigeria/africa- rw radio and 'christian' blogs

[Laelth]

78. That's something I had not heard before.

And it's horrifying. If you have the time and can find the source, I'd love to see this observation as a stand-alone OP.

-Laelth

[Oilwellian]

59. The U.S. Christian Right and the Attack on Gays in Africa

Kapya Kaoma is an Anglican priest from Zambia and project director of Political Research Associates. He is the author of PRA’s October 2009 report, Globalizing the Culture Wars: U.S. Conservatives, African Churches and Homophobia.

For two days in early March 2009, Ugandans flocked to the Kampala Triangle Hotel for the Family Life Network's "Seminar on Exposing the Homosexuals' Agenda." The seminar's very title revealed its claim: LGBT people and activists are engaged in a well thought-out plan to take over the world. The U.S. culture wars had come to Africa with a vengeance.

To put on the conference, the Uganda-based Family Life Network – led by Stephen Langa with the goal of "restoring" traditional family values and morals in Uganda – teamed with two U.S. hatemongers from the Christian Right, Holocaust revisionist Scott Lively and Dan Schmierer of the ex-gay group Exodus International.[1] Vocal opposition in international circles did not stop the country's high profile religious leaders, parliamentarians, police officers, teachers, and concerned parents from attending. Indeed, parliamentary action to wage war on gays was on the conference agenda. It was not enough that homosexuality is illegal in Uganda. As someone stated from the podium,

[The parliament] feels it is necessary to draft a new law that deals comprehensively with the issue of homosexuality and …takes into account the international gay agenda….Right now there is a proposal that a new law be drafted.[2]

The unsuspecting audience heard Lively promote his book, The Pink Swastika, and his argument that not only are gays seeking to take over the world, but they also threaten society by causing higher rates of divorce, child abuse, and HIV/AIDS. Legalizing homosexuality is on par with accepting "molestation of children or having sex with animals," he said. As Lively puts it, LGBT issues cannot be considered human rights issues. "The people coming to Africa now and advancing the idea that human rights serves the homosexual interests are absolutely wrong," he said. "Many of them are outright liars and they are manipulating history; they are manipulating facts in order to push their political agenda." Lively even tarred abortion rights as "a product of the gay philosophy" meant to promote sexual promiscuity in order to "destroy the family." In sum, he warned, U.S. homosexuals are out to recruit young people into homosexual lifestyles so they must be stopped.

http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v24n4/us-christian-right-attack-on-gays-in-africa.html


But oppression isn’t the only link between these regions. The same U.S. evangelicals responsible for promoting the initial drafts of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill (often referred to as the “Kill the Gays” bill due to clauses in its original form that would have applied the death penalty to individuals found guilty of “aggravated homosexuality”) are also well-known figures in Russia’s anti-LGBTQ movement. Scott Lively, who’s currently being charged with “crimes against humanity” for his involvement in Uganda’s attack on LGBTQ people, has also claimed credit for Russia’s gay propaganda law. Rick Warren, who was also influential in the conception of Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ legislation, is in the process of launching a new branch of his ministry in Moscow. Don Schmierer, another of the U.S. evangelicals guilty of endorsing Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ movement, has gone to the effort of having his book (a guide for how to “prevent the homosexual condition”) into Russian.

http://www.politicalresearch.org/tag/scott-lively/

The Evangelicals have been busy spreading their hate around the world.

[Bluenorthwest]

68. Uganda is 42% Catholic, Francis spent years calling gay people demonic and he has

supported this law through his personal silence and via the statements of his Bishops and Cardinals.
Uganda has another 40% who are Anglican.
The fact is, like it or not, this law was passed mostly by Catholics and Anglicans, because they comprise between them over 80% of Uganda. Yeah, Lively and the rest of them are monsters, but to claim there is a difference between one clerical hate monger and the next seems to serve one set of hate mongers. The culpability is ecumenical, non denominational, and none of the guilty should be spared from criticism.

[LuvNewcastle]

70. I'm wondering if this will cause a rift in the Anglican Communion.

There's been tension in the past between the American Episcopal Church, which is outspoken for gay rights, and the African Anglicans. The Episcopalians have gay bishops, and that riles the Africans. I hope the Episcopal Church speaks out loud and clear on this issue and shames the African Anglicans. This situation is an outrage, and there should be international condemnation and pressure for sanctions against the countries that are doing this.

As for the Catholics, I don't expect a whole lot. A lot of American Catholics are for gay rights, but the American cardinals all seem very conservative. I think the Pope will call for an end to the violence, but I certainly don't expect him to tell Ugandans to embrace their gay brothers and sisters. He has a chance to really lead here, but I expect him to totally blow it.

[William769]

63. Kicking for the night owls.

[LuvNewcastle]

64. Nighttime Kick!

[Luminous Animal]

67. Let's not forget that Obama supported those who support this monstrosity.

Warren wrote Time magazine’s egregious puff piece on Nigerian archbishop Peter Akinola, and supported Ugandan archbishop Henry Orombi’s decision to boycott the Lambeth Conference because supporters of an openly gay bishop would be there.
Cafe regulars will remember that Akinola supported anti-gay legislation criticized by every major human rights group, the European parliament and the U. S. State Department, and has yet to answer questions about his knowledge of a massacre of 700 Muslims in Yelwa Nigeria in 2004.

Orombi isn’t quite as bad. He only believes that gay people and their supporters are out to kill him, and will pay Africans to become homosexuals.

A Kampala newspaper report on Warren’s support of the Lambeth boycott included this paragraph:
Dr Warren said that homosexuality is not a natural way of life and thus not a human right. “We shall not tolerate this aspect at all,” Dr Warren said.

http://americablog.com/2008/12/where-does-rick-warren-stand-on-criminalizing-homosexuality.html

But it's only a speech! Aargh!

[Bluenorthwest]

69. Between the Rick Warren fans and the Francis Promoters, a huge percentage of DU

stands perilously close to being in open support of these genocidal laws.

[Behind the Aegis]

71. Rancid.

[William769]

72. I would even go further & say sub-human.

[Behind the Aegis]

73. Agreed. Someone mentioned Nazis above.

Sadly, it isn't too far off the mark. When dealing with some assholes who mock anti-Semitism and during the anniversary of Kristallnacht, I posted pictures of Jews being marched through various cities with onlookers hurling things and the SS beating them. It may not be at the same level, but it could very easily happen. The most disgusting part are those who aren't concerned or are only concerned when they can use it to make a political strike against another hated group.

[William769]

74. Agreed and not to far off the mark.

I don't know if you saw this one or not.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024525168

At the least I see a genocide starting in the near future.

[ismnotwasm]

77. This is exactly like the witch trials

Take a look at this article

Violence against gay men following anti-homosexuality bill, Nigeria

Date: 15 January 2013
Source: The Independent

Police are hunting down and torturing homosexuals in Nigeria, rights groups say, only days after President Goodluck Jonathan signed new anti-gay measures into law.

Campaigners also allege that gay men were tortured into naming dozens of others, to be arrested.

Homosexual acts were already illegal in Nigeria, but the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, passed with no announcement on 13 January, means anyone belonging to a gay organisation can get up to 10 years in jail, and anyone married to someone of the same sex can get up to 14 years.

The law was met with condemnation from countries such as the United States, Britain and Canada. The UN Secretary General has spoken out against it and UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said "Rarely have I seen a piece of legislation that in so few paragraphs directly violates so many basic, universal human rights."

According to the Associated Press news agency, accounts varied of how many arrests were made in Bauchi state on Tuesday, and a local law enforcement official denied that anyone was tortured. Executive director of Nigeria's International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights said an undercover officer joined a group being counselled on AIDS, pretending to be gay. The organisation said police then detained four gay men over the December holiday period and tortured them until they named others allegedly belonging to a gay organisation.

http://www.rhmjournal.org.uk/news.php?newsID=1736