Anti-Gay Mob Attacks In Nigerian Capital

[DonViejo]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Human rights activists say a mob dragged men accused of being homosexuals from their homes in the Nigerian capital and beat them up with wooden clubs and iron bars.

They say four of the 14 victims then were punched and kicked by police officers.

A police spokeswoman promised to respond to the allegations about the attack in the early hours of Thursday in a shantytown of Abuja. Human rights activist Ifeanyi Orazulike said four young men were seriously injured in the attack and all the victims are in hiding.

The U.S. Embassy says the attack strengthens its concerns that Nigeria's recently passed Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act could be used to justify such violence. Dozens of alleged gays have been arrested since President Goodluck Jonathan signed the law in January.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/15/anti-gay-mob-nigeria_n_4793795.html

[SecularMotion]

1. The bigger picture: understanding anti-gay laws in Africa

On December 20, Uganda passed the Private Members Bill which makes certain homosexual acts punishable with life in prison and also punishes anyone who "funds", "sponsors" or "abets" homosexuality in that country. In the same week, the Ugandan Parliament passed an anti-pornography law banning "erotic behavior intended to cause sexual excitement and any indecent act or behavior tending to corrupt morals" as well as a law banning mini-skirts.

The developments have been condemned by Western governments and have predictably sparked outrage amongst many people in South Africa. Purse-string holding countries in the north have threatened to withdraw millions of dollars in aid for the enactment of these laws, with Germany having already withdrawn aid from Uganda, citing the law as a main concern. While some may say that this is a useful strategy in protecting LGBTI rights in Africa, this is also a problematic response that draws on colonial-era assumptions of Western superiority.

These “progressive” responses, like their conservative counterparts, assert and assume the legitimacy of the West to dictate to African people and countries, furthering the idea that it is in the best interest of African people to do as the West instructs.

My intention here is not to recount the debates or take sides (although I stand firmly against any law which imposes conservative sexual moralisms onto the populace). My intention here is to add a crucial, yet missing, part of the debate.

http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2014-01-20-the-bigger-picture-understanding-anti-gay-laws-in-africa/

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Are we allowed to speak out against this?

Once again, GLBT people are under attack, and it is time for the world to stand up and collectively say "NO!"

[Kurska]

3. No we must respect the "culture" of brutes and murderers

Of course ignoring that the gay men and women of these places have just as much right indigenous claims as the anti-gay zealots.

[awoke_in_2003]

5. We should place an embargo on that country...

not only cut off the money our government gives them, but make it illegal for any American group (read churches) from giving them money. Hell, we don't allow money to go to Cuba for a hell of a lot less. American churches stirred the anti-gay furor in that country.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. I am always wary of embargoes as it is usually the citizenry that is hurt.

But I fully support the making it illegal for American groups to export their money and hate!! I fear, though, we (the US) will still allow this shit to go on, while a pointless and useless embargo of Cuba continues.

[awoke_in_2003]

10. Yeah, I hear you...

And that Cuban one is stupid as hell. During the Korean war, Chinese communists killed thousands of US soldiers. During Viet Nam, VN communists killed thousands of US soldiers. They are both trading partners with us now. How many Americans have Cuban communists killed?

[Behind the Aegis]

12. Well, the whole principle behind the embargo has long since passed!

It is one of those things I have read about over and over, and I still do not understand why the embargo is still in place. It doesn't even make sense using the right's version of "logic."

[awoke_in_2003]

13. It is still in place...

because of the Cuban voting block in Miami. Politicians are terrified of pissing them off.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. That is my understanding.

However, as a Jew, I am always wary of things like that, besides, it is an area of which I am completely unfamiliar and know nothing of the voting power of the Cuban-American people.

[joshcryer]

23. Who recently became a minority, thankfully.

We should live to see it lifted, maybe in the next 5 years, even.

[William769]

15. Are you kidding me?

People are to damn busy watching the Olympics (which is a hole other story in itself), and the one's Not watching the Olympics have their collective heads buried in the sand (this thread should be proof enough of that).

I got my ass jumped last night for going off on the fundies in Kansas. If they don't care here what makes you think they are going to care about LGBT people in other Countries?

If we have to stand alone we will. It's not like it's the first time we have had to do it.

[joshcryer]

22. Only if you refrain from speaking out about it in other instances.

Duh.

[SoapBox]

4. It's like some bad horror movie.

Mobs of mindless (or ignorant and stupid) zombies, attacking.

The world has lost it's fucking mind.

[riderinthestorm]

6. A thoroughly disgusted and horrified K&R for more exposure nt

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. deleted because it was an assumption

I shouldn't do that.

[hrmjustin]

11. This is so sad and horrific.

[William769]

16. Heres another story for comparrison.

Nigerian Homes Raided to 'Cleanse' Neighborhood of Gays



A mob in Nigeria's capital Abuja raided multiple homes and dragged 14 men out of their beds in the middle of the night to beat them with the goal of "cleansing" their neighborhood of gay people, the Associated Press reports.

Four of the men who were attacked were also taken to a police station, where police officers beat them, and then told them that they would be incarcerated for 14 years under Nigeria's "Jail The Gays" law. That law punishes those who are in same-sex marriages with time in jail. It also criminalizes meetings where anyone advocates for LGBT people.

The four men were eventually released because there was no evidence that they are gay, and they were not engaged in any sexual act at the time of the raid.

The homes where the men lived were also spray painted with the words "Homosexuals, pack and leave."

http://www.advocate.com/world/2014/02/15/nigerian-homes-raided-cleanse-neighborhood-gays

[Cha]

17. Kick :(

[blkmusclmachine]

18. President Goodluck Jonathan's legislation is having its desired effect. Trace this right back to US

Evangelical Churches, including Washington DC's shadowy far rightwing Cult called "The Family."

[theHandpuppet]

26. Not just the Evangelicals, either

http://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2014/02/05/catholic-bishops-nigeria-thank-god-anti-lgbt-laws

[Fumesucker]

28. Interesting cast of characters involved with "The Family"

https://www.au.org/church-state/december-2009-church-state/au-bulletin/religious-right%E2%80%99s-secretive-%E2%80%98c-street-house%E2%80%99-to

Over the years, former attorneys general John Ashcroft and Edwin Meese, U.S. Sens. James Inhofe, Charles Grassley and Sam Brownback, several members of the House of Representatives and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore have been affiliated with The Family.

[alp227]

19. better article by NY Times

Mob Attacks More Than a Dozen Gay Men in Nigeria’s Capital

[freshwest]

20. Knew Nigerian students in the seventies. AFAIK, this is from American RW fundy influence.

Look at how Palin's church was involved in Uganda. And how other groups have gone to Africa to preach a hateful version of religion. Not to mention the American ones that now support the laws in Russia, and here.

This is the worst reactionary American cultural influence we could possibly give to the world. I'm ashamed of what they are doing, even though I'm not part of it.

I see this as our fault for not taming these maniacs here. Maybe it's a sign of the times that with so much money in religion and politcs, it's used to kill and destroy everything.

[Behind the Aegis]

21. They can't get their shit passed here, so they export.

There is an irony in there somewhere. It is disgusting to see how these people take their hate and get into law. It is disgusting.

[theHandpuppet]

25. Not to mention this stamp of approval

http://www.mambaonline.com/2014/02/05/nigeria-catholic-bishops-back-anti-gay-law/
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100258048/catholic-bishops-back-nigerias-anti-gay-law-uk-pro-life-leader-applauds-them/

[arely staircase]

24. just heartbreaking

Absolutely horrible.

[Sunlei]

27. Abuja, is a created city to run their country. I don't think this was a mob attack but political

Look at the website they put up for their city. Someone helped them organize, they have anti-terror gear, extensive security system and go after, call out people by name in their press releases. They get rid of people in that place who say anything against the Gov.'

The city of Abuja has a website, wonder who helped them organize like this- http://www.fct.gov.ng/#