UK Foreign Secretary William Hague: I am disappointed and concerned by Nigeria’s new anti-gay laws
Foreign Secretary William Hague has condemned Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan for approving a draconian anti-gay bill, saying the UK “will continue to lobby at the highest levels on this issue.”
This afternoon, Mr Hague said: “The UK is a close friend of Nigeria, but we are disappointed that President Jonathan has given his assent to a bill which will further criminalise same-sex relationships in Nigeria. The UK opposes any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
“The bill also directly infringes on fundamental rights of expression and association, which are guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and by Nigeria’s international treaty obligations. We are concerned by the prospect this raises of further action against an already marginalised section of society.”
Mr Hague added: “My colleague Jeremy Wright, Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice, raised our concerns with the Nigerian foreign minister on 9 January, and our high commissioner has raised the issue on a number of occasions with the president and other senior members of the Nigerian Government. We will continue to lobby at the highest levels on this issue.”
“It is inconsistent with Nigeria’s international legal obligations and undermines the democratic reforms and human rights protections enshrined in its 1999 Constitution,” Mr Kerry said.
According to the law, anyone who enters into a same-sex marriage, civil union or domestic partnership could face up to 14 years in prison. Additionally, same-sex marriages legally performed in other countries would be considered void by the Nigerian Government.
The law also restricts LGBT citizens from meeting in public settings.
Reports out of Nigeria say dozens of gay men have recently been arrested in the country, many through police entrapment.
