Anti-Gay Law: Nigeria to prosecute 12 homosexuals

An Islamic court in Bauchi State has put on trial 11 Muslim men accused of being homosexuals in violation of their religion. A 12th person arrested, a Christian, according to agency report would be tried under secular law.

If convicted of homosexuality, the 11 Muslim men may be sentenced to death by stoning according to Islamic law.

President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill into law on January 7.

The law prohibits homosexuals from even meeting in groups of two or more, bans marriage or civil unions between people of the same sex, and criminalises gay clubs, events and shows of same-sex public affection. Those convicted may be imprisoned for 14 years.

Before the law became national, Bauchi State had been arresting homosexuals.

The Commissioner, Bauchi State Sharia Commission, Jibrin Danlami Hassan, said the alleged homosexuals were arrested by residents of Bauchi city and handed to the Islamic police force, which interrogated them.
"They accept that they are doing that dirty game," Mr. Hassan told the BBC.