NIgeria: Made Even Worse Anti-gay Bill Seen as anti International Rights Push

In what is seen as a reaction to yesterday's move by the Obama administration, today Nigeria's House introduced a version of the bill passed last week by that nation's Senate. One lawmaker vowed to make the bill even worse that it already is. Box Turtle Bulletin tips us to this report:

A spokesman for the House of Representatives and a cabinet minister in Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer were defiant in the face of Western criticism over the measure. “We have a culture. We have religious beliefs and we have a tradition. We are black people. We are not white,” said Zakari Mohammed, who is also a lawmaker. He said same-sex marriage “is alien to our culture and we can never give it a chance. So if (Western nations) will hold their aid to us, to hell with them.” Information Minister Labaran Maku said “we reserve the right to make our laws without apologies to other countries.” Mohammed vowed lawmakers would proscribe even tougher penalties than those proposed so far. He said “to hell with the super powers if they are for gay marriages.”

In addition to criminalizing taking part in or witnessing a same sex marriage, the revised bill creates the following crimes:.

“Any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisation, or directly or indirectly make public show of same sex amorous relationship” is now subject to ten years imprisonment. The same penalty applies to anyone who “supports the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies, organisations, processions or meetings in Nigeria.”

Nigeria Passes Bill Mandating Prison Time For Gays Who Marry

Nigeria’s Senate voted on Tuesday to criminalize gay marriage, instituting prison terms up to 14 years in jail, and witnesses or anyone who helps couples marry could be sentenced to 10 years behind bars.
Homosexuality is already illegal in Nigeria and in areas of the  north where Islamic Shariah law has is enforced gays and lesbians can face death by stoning.

“Such elements in society should be killed,” Sen. Baba Dati said during the Senate debate.
The bill now heads to Nigeria’s House of Representatives, who have to approve the bill and send it to President Goodluck Jonathan for his signature before it becomes a law.

Nigeria’s new anti-gay law comes in the wake of British Prime Minister David Cameron promise to withhold aid to over 41 states which, according to Cameron, are violating the rights of homosexuals. Malawi, Uganda, Nigeria and Ghana are expected to be the first targets of the policy change.
Defiantly Senate President David Mark said Nigeria would not bow to international pressure on any legislation.

“Our values are our values,” Mark said. “No country has a right to interfere in the way we make our laws.”