Another case of anti-gay mob violence in Nigeria. One of the leaders of the nation's only gay activist organization says he was almost killed by a bloodthirtsy crowd outside a funeral ceremony.
The incident happened Thursday in Port Harcourt at the funeral ceremony for the sister of Davis Mac-Iyalla, the head of Changing Attitude Nigeria, a religious-based gay outreach group. Reportedly, the funeral was attended by six of its members and one man, who prefers not to be named, says he was approached by "a muscular man" who "asked me for a word outside the compound."
"The next thing I saw was a mob group who were there to attack me. They started slapping and punching me, kicked me on the ground and spat on me.
"While beating me they were shouting: 'You notorious homosexual, you think can run away from us for your notorious group to cause more abomination in our land?'"
In August, a lynch mob of several dozen men attacked a prison where a dozen suspected gay men were being detained.
CAN leaders and international human rights advocates have long accused Archbishop Peter Akinola of directing or condoning violence against gays. The rabidly anti-gay archbishop has been at the forefront of opposing gay clergy across the Anglican Communion and its the American branch, the Episcopal Church.
Homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria. (Previously discussed here and here.) Those convicted face jail terms in the mainly Christian south and execution in the mainly Muslim north. Meanwhile, proposed legislation would be the most homophobic laws in any country, effectively stripping gays and lesbians of all civil rights and freedom of speech or association.
Gay Nigerian Christian Leader Attacked [UK Gay News]
More NIGERIA
Some Background ...
Nigerian Lynch Mob Storms Jail [R20]
Nigeria Latest 18 Alleged Gays Face Death Penalty [R20]
Nigerian Woman Denies "Lesbian Wedding" [R20]
Nigerian Lesbian In Hiding After Reported Wedding [R20]
Nigeria's Homophobia Threatens Bid for Games [R20]
Nigeria One Step Closer to Outlawing Gays [R20]
Gay Nigerians Speak Out [R20]
Nigeria Prepares to Outlaw Gays [R20]
Nigeria to Ban Gays Meeting [R20]
Who is Archbishop Peter Akinola? [R20]
Nigeria's Islamic Sharia Law [R20]
UK Deports Gay Nigerian [R20]
Harsh New Nigerian Laws [R20]
Hello, I'm a new reader living in London and originally from Nigeria. Thanks so much on the news from my native country. Gay men and lesbians are the subject of much discrimination and violence, it would shock American audiences.
Posted by: Kwame | 24 March 2008 at 11:11
Hi, Kwame: it's always great to have a visitor from overseas come to Rod's Blog.
I can't imagine the courage it must take to be openly gay in most African countries. But is it the rise of a "gay subculture" demanding civil rights which is partly the cause of this? Did Nigerians care about gay people before they started hearing about gay people in the West? And yes, how much are the religious figures in Africa to blame for this inhumane behavior? I admire those gay people in Africa, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe who are out of the closet, but I can't blame the ones who decide to stay in. 'Course that doesn't help transgendered gay Africans, they can't get in a damn closet.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 24 March 2008 at 14:07
This reminds me of the anti Jewish mobs of the 19th century in Europe, the anti black mobs in the 20th century U.S., and the caste system mobs in India. How sad that Nigerians adopt the ways of the Europeans. Hello Kwame
Posted by: Mel Smith | 24 March 2008 at 14:59
As horrific as the story is--thank you, Rod, for keeping us up to date on stories ignored by the MSM. (I doubt I'll find it thumbing between Dolce & Gabbana ads in OUT or GENRE.)
Posted by: Andy Niable | 24 March 2008 at 23:48
This has to be one of the most frightening scenarios that a person would have to endure: being attacked and assaulted by a mob for being the person you were meant to be. Luther, you are right that there are much more important issues that the continent of Africa is affected by. One of those issues is undoubtedly education among the water, food, and HIV/AIDS pandemic. I think education could do a lot to help people of Africa to be more socially conscious, and it would definitely help with the HIV/AIDS issue. It all comes back to the idea that a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Posted by: Blah | 25 March 2008 at 20:56