The majority of countries around the world that still criminalize homosexuality are former British colonies or territories. Sodomy laws are a common feature in 16 of the 18 African Commonwealth nations. Almost all anti-sodomy laws date back to the British colonial era penal codes. These have never been repealed and are still in effect in almost all the common law countries in Africa. Caselaw and customary practice have redefined these pieces of legislation, reshaping them as laws that criminalize any aspect of homosexual conduct and ease extreme homophobic policies in a some countries. In recent months, some Governments have sought to radically increase the penalties for people convicted under anti-sodomy laws
When newly independent countries democratically exercised their right to amend the colonial sodomy law, suddenly it seems worrying development from a western perspective So much so every time a country does not agree with the US and UK they would be punished, although it would be so much easy to convert al Qaeda to catholic than make Africans accept gay marriages.
Political Adviser to the President Alhaji Ahmed Gulak told reporters that Nigerians will not let their legislature be influenced by Western governments
Obama ordered all government agencies that play an active foreign policy role to take steps to encourage foreign nations to put a premium on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has already warned that his country will consider withholding aid from countries that do not recognise gay rights.
"This is Nigerian law; it is not American law and if you are an American and you come to Nigeria, you must subject yourself to our law and if you are caught violating this law or any other law, you will be prosecuted accordingly," Gulak said.
Zakari Mohammed, a Nigerian lawmaker said, “We have a culture. We have religious beliefs and we have a tradition. We are black people. We are not white, and so the U.S cannot impose its culture on us. Same sex marriage is alien to our culture and we can never give it a chance. So if [Western nations] withhold their aid to us, to hell with them.”
Many Nigerians are convinced that homosexuality is 'of the devil', against our 'culture' and an encroachment of 'sad Western values'.
Ce message a été modifié par labo22 - 09 janvier 2012 - 06:23 .