United Nations’ Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon expressed deep concern on Wednesday at a new Nigerian law that
criminalises same-sex relationships, which he fears could fuel prejudice
and violence and risks obstructing an effective HIV/AIDS response.
The bill, which contains penalties of up
to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex “amorous
relationships” and membership of gay rights groups, was passed by the
National Assembly last May and signed into law by President Goodluck
Jonathan on Monday.
“The Secretary-General fears that the law may fuel prejudice and violence, and notes with alarm reports that police in northern Nigeria have arrested individuals believed by the authorities to be homosexuals, and may even have tortured them,” Ban’s press office said in a statement quoted by Reuters.
