Nigerian gays and lesbians, under the aegis of ‘The
Right Defense’, are daring President Goodluck
Jonathan, and would soon stage a demonstration
in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, they said in a
statement on Saturday.
They are protesting against the anti-gay law which
took effect on 7 January this year when the
president signed it.
Although overwhelmingly supported by Nigerians,
the law has been sharply criticised by western
countries, especially the United States and Britain,
which see it as an infringement on the rights of
gays and lesbians.
Nigerian gays in a statement they accompanied
with masked pictures of themselves said they were
protesting against an “undemocratic and unlawful
discrimination” of gays and lesbians and trans-
genders in the country.
The demonstration in Abuja, they said, has become
necessary to condemn what they call “an increase
in threats against fundamental human rights of
certain persons including LGBT in the country.”
“This is not an ideological protest movement. It’s
about quality of democracy in Nigeria. This is
about people making some very democratic
demands about the government’s need to respect
freedom of assembly and freedom of association,
as it is channelled in the United Nations universal
declaration of Human Rights,” The Right Defense
said.
The group added: “We also challenge the existence
of the Nigeria human rights body, the National
Human Right Commission for its lack of integrity
and principle in the fight against discrimination and
violation of individual rights.”
The Right Defense said many of its members have
suffered overt discrimination from law enforcement
and judicial authorities, particularly in their various
communities for being constantly accused of
indecent practices.
They said they often don’t report rights violations to
authorities out of fear of reprisal or arrest.
The group said many Nigerians have in the past
fled the country due to threats to life and
harassment in their communities.
Right Defense’, are daring President Goodluck
Jonathan, and would soon stage a demonstration
in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, they said in a
statement on Saturday.
They are protesting against the anti-gay law which
took effect on 7 January this year when the
president signed it.
Although overwhelmingly supported by Nigerians,
the law has been sharply criticised by western
countries, especially the United States and Britain,
which see it as an infringement on the rights of
gays and lesbians.
Nigerian gays in a statement they accompanied
with masked pictures of themselves said they were
protesting against an “undemocratic and unlawful
discrimination” of gays and lesbians and trans-
genders in the country.
The demonstration in Abuja, they said, has become
necessary to condemn what they call “an increase
in threats against fundamental human rights of
certain persons including LGBT in the country.”
“This is not an ideological protest movement. It’s
about quality of democracy in Nigeria. This is
about people making some very democratic
demands about the government’s need to respect
freedom of assembly and freedom of association,
as it is channelled in the United Nations universal
declaration of Human Rights,” The Right Defense
said.
The group added: “We also challenge the existence
of the Nigeria human rights body, the National
Human Right Commission for its lack of integrity
and principle in the fight against discrimination and
violation of individual rights.”
The Right Defense said many of its members have
suffered overt discrimination from law enforcement
and judicial authorities, particularly in their various
communities for being constantly accused of
indecent practices.
They said they often don’t report rights violations to
authorities out of fear of reprisal or arrest.
The group said many Nigerians have in the past
fled the country due to threats to life and
harassment in their communities.
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