Three men in Nigeria sentenced to death for homosexual activity
On July 1, 2022 after being arrested by religious police, an Islamic sharia court in Nigeria sentenced three men to death by means of stoning. None of the men had legal representation in the courtroom and all pleaded guilty to their crimes. These men are aged 20, 30, and 70.
Bauchi, where the arrests took place is one of twelve states in Nigeria that is governed by Islamic law, where homosexuality is definitely a crime. The maximum sentence for criminalized homosexual activity is the same that these convicted men received – death by stoning.
These Islamic states also criminalize other activities such as adultery right down to blasphemy with varying sentences and consequences for participating in these crimes.
In order for these executions to take place, the state governor must approve any death penalty sentencing passed by the Islamic sharia courts. The men have thirty days to appeal the sentence, back dated to June 30, 2022.
Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act criminalizes all forms of gay relationshps and public displays of affection. Consequences include prison sentences ranging from fourteen years, right through to the death penalty, as awarded in this case.
Nigeria is not alone in this. Gay sex is currently illegal in more than half of the African countries. Gabon, Kenya, and Botswana are among the few countries that have recently decriminlized homosexualtiy.
The sentencing has sparked outrage among activists within Nigeria. LGBTQ activist Kayode Somtochukwu Ani is worried about the tone this could set for the LGBTQ community in Nigeria moving forward.
“We had this crossdressing bill introduced in April, and now we’re having three people sentenced to death by stoning in 2022… It’s getting out of hand, the fear that northern LGBTQ people have to live in at this moment.”
Ani, who works for the Queer Union for Economic and Social Transformation (QUEST) said that activists have been trying to gain access to the prisoners to assist them in appealing their case, especially since they had no legal representation at the initial heating. As of yet, they have been unsuccessful in their attempts.
The second hearing for these three convicted men will take place at the end of July.
