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Gambia President Jammeh Repeats Violent Anti-Gay Threats

There are more disturbing developments from the West African nation of The Gambia. President Yahya Jammeh has reportedly unleashed more violent anti-gay threats and warned gay men "do not ever visit the country or 'you will regret why you are born'."

The most recent "anti-gay policy" was delivered on Thursday to parliament while vowing to crack down on crime and corruption, reports the Gambia-based Freedom Newspaper. NOTE: Loud streaming audio of radio program at link.

Jammeh also used the occasion to send out a warning to homosexuals. He said gays are not allowed into the Gambia. He said he stood by his previous declarations [and] has no regrets for his anti gay policy. "Homosexuality is anti-humanity. I have never seen homosexual chicken, or turkey.. If you are convicted of homosexuality in this country, there will be no mercy for offenders. We will put you in the female wing of the prison," Jammeh said.

"Homosexuality is anti-god, anti-human, and anti-civilization. Homosexuals are not welcome in the Gambia. If we catch you, you will regret why you are born. I have buffalos from South Africa and Brazil and they never date each other. Allowing homosexuality means allowing satanic rights. We will not allow gays here."

President Yahya Jammeh has ruled Gambia after seizing power in 1994. In recent years the West African dictator has attracted international attention for his anti-gay rhetoric and violent threats. In May and June 2008, the Gambian leader ordered all homosexuals to leave the country and promised to "cut off the head" of any gay man remained in the West African nation.

Gambia is one of at least 38 of 54 African countries that prohibit same-sex relations. Same-sex relations between men and women are a felony and liable for imprisonment up to seven years. Four nations—Mauritania, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan—boast the death penalty for gays or same-sex activity. South Africa and Seychelles are the only African nations that protect LGBT rights. South Africa is also the only African nation to guarantee marriage equality.

But there have been some promising developments in Gambia. A court dropped indecency charges in August 2012 against 18 men and two women who were charged with "unnatural offenses" and "indecency". The defendants were accused of homosexuality but the prosecutors' cases were "based on discredited evidence", the judge ruled.

Some Background:

GAMBIA: Indecency Charges Dismissed Against 20
GAMBIA: 20 Accused of "Unnatural Offenses"
Gambia "Won't Be 'Bribed' to Accept Gays"
Gambian Pres. Threatens to "Cut Off the Head" of Gays
UN Rep Expelled After Doubting President's AIDS "Cure"
Gambian President Can Cure "HIV"
Gambian President Threatens to Fire All Gay Soldiers
UN Chief Urges African Leaders to Respect Gay Rights
Gambia President Renews

GAMBIA: Indecency Charges Dismissed Against 20

There are promising developments in the West African nation of Gambia. A court has dropped charges against 18 men and two women who were arrested in April and charged with "unnatural offenses" and "indecency".

The defendants were accused of homosexuality but the prosecutors' case was "based on discredited evidence", reports Tanzania's The Citizen and the UK-based GayStarNews. Same-sex relations are banned in Gambia. Violators face up to 14 years in prison.

Two police officers previously testified that when they had raided the nightclub they had seen the defendants "wearing female clothes." ... These allegations were denied by all the defendants who stated no one there wore drag. The police officer obtained 43 pictures from digital cameras at the venue as central ‘evidence’ supporting their claims. However after examination most of the pictures were taken by the club owner’s at different occasions and could not possibly have been attributed to the accused.

That's the good news. On the other hand, some defendants say they have been ostracized by family and neighbors "after their names and photographs were published in newspapers."

President Yahya Jammeh has ruled Gambia after seizing power in 1994. In recent years the West African dictator has attracted international attention for his anti-gay rhetoric and violent threats. In May and June 2008, the Gambian leader ordered all homosexuals to leave the country and promised to "cut off the head"of any gay man remained in the West African nation.

The European Union has cancelled 22 million euros ($26 million) in budget support to Gambia in 2010 due to concerns over human rights, reports Radio Netherlands Worldwide. The EU is the leading aid provider for Gambia. Jammeh recently has slammed EU and UK attempts to link aid to human rights and support of gays.

Same-sex acts are currently illegal in at least 38 of 54 African countries. Four nations—Mauritania, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan—boast the death penalty for gays or same-sex activity. South Africa and Seychelles are the only African nations that protect LGBT rights. South Africa is also the only African nation to guarantee marriage equality.

Some Background:
Gambia "Won't Be 'Bribed' to Accept Gays"
Gambian Pres. Threatens to "Cut Off the Head" of Gays
UN Rep Expelled After Doubting President's AIDS "Cure"
Gambian President Can Cure "HIV"
Gambian President Threatens to Fire All Gay Soldiers
UN Chief Urges African Leaders to Respect Gay Rights
Gambia President Renews

GAMBIA: 17 Men and 3 Women Accused of "Unnatural Offenses"

Seventeen men and three women accused of "unnatural offenses" and homosexuality are now on trial in the West African nation of The Gambia. The men were arrested at a club outside the capital of Banjul in April. The trial started on June 14, according to local reports.

[The commanding police officer] said that he received information that there were a group of boys suspected to be homosexuals, who were having a party at the Elite Fitness Centre. On his arrival, he parked his car outside between 10 pm and 11 pm, and stood near the gate when Sowe and Dibba were inside.

There was drumming, and he saw inside many boys, among them, the accused persons dressed like women and bags were hanging from their shoulders. Some of them were dancing to the drums. [Another officer] took pictures while the accused persons were dancing. [One defendant] insisted that Abdouile Sowe should delete the pictures, because he did not invite any photographer.

[Two defendants] said they were having a party. [After they] were arrested, he then called the OC to send reinforcements, adding that when they arrived, they surrounded the boys and arrested 17 boys and three girls.

Same-sex relations are banned in Gambia. Violators face up to 14 years in prison.

Same-sex acts are currently illegal in at least 38 of 54 African countries. Four nations—Mauritania, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan—boast the death penalty for gays or same-sex activity. South Africa and Seychelles are the only African nations that protect LGBT rights. South Africa is also the only African nation to guarantee marriage equality.

President Yahya Jammeh has ruled The Gambia after seizing power in a military coup in 1994. In recent years the West African dictator has attracted international attention for his anti-gay rhetoric and violent threats. In May and June 2008, the Gambian leader ordered all homosexuals to leave the country and promised to "cut off the head"of any gay man remained in the West African nation. Jammeh has also threatened to fire all gay and lesbian officers serving in the military.

Jammeh has also been condemned by the international comnmunity after telling his citizens that he can "cure" HIV.

Some Background:
Gambia "Won't Be 'Bribed' to Accept Gays"
Gambian Pres. Threatens to "Cut Off the Head" of Gays
UN Rep Expelled After Doubting President's AIDS "Cure"
Gambian President Can Cure "HIV"
Gambian President Threatens to Fire All Gay Soldiers
UN Chief Urges African Leaders to Respect Gay Rights
Gambia President Renews

Gambia President Jammeh: Country Won't Be "Bribed" to Accept Gays

The President of Gambia has renewed his harsh anti-gay attacks. Yahya Jammeh has warned diplomats his country will not be "bribed" with foreign aid to accept LGBT rights, reports AFP.

"If you are to give us aid for men and men or for women and women to marry, leave it. We don't need your aid because as far as I am the president of the Gambia, you will never see that happen in this country," he said.

The opening of parliament on Saturday was attended by the ambassadors from Britain and the United States, who have both said they will consider gay rights when handing out aid, infuriating many African nations who consider homosexuality "un-African".

Jammeh's comments come less than two weeks after 19 men were arrested at a bar outside the capital of Banjul. The men were charged with indecent practices after being "suspected of homosexuality", reported AFP on April 10.

Same-sex relations are banned in west African nation. Violators face up to 14 years in prison.

Same-sex acts are currently illegal in at least 38 of 54 African countries. Four nations—Mauritania, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan—boast the death penalty for gays or same-sex activity. South Africa and Seychelles are the only African nations that protect LGBT rights. South Africa is also the only African nation to guarantee marriage equality.

Jammeh has ruled The Gambia after seizing power in a military coup in 1994. In recent years the West African dictator has attracted international attention for his anti-gay rhetoric and violent threats. In May and June 2008, the Gambian leader ordered all homosexuals to leave the country and promised to "cut off the head"of any gay man remained in the West African nation. Jammeh has also threatened to fire all gay and lesbian officers serving in the military.

Jammeh has also been condemned by the international comnmunity after telling his citizens that he can "cure" HIV.

Some Background  ...
Gambian Pres. Threatens to "Cut Off the Head" of Gays
UN Rep Expelled After Doubting President's AIDS "Cure"
Gambian President Can Cure "HIV"
Gambian President Threatens to Fire All Gay Soldiers
UN Chief Urges African Leaders to Respect Gay Rights
Gambia President Renews Attacks on Gay Rights

Gambia President Jammeh Renews Attacks on Gay Rights

The President of The Gambia has renewed his harsh attacks on gays. Responding to recent calls for African nations to respect gay rights, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh reiterated that he would never accept gays in his West African nation, reports the South African Press Association.

"We know what human rights are. Human beings of the same sex cannot marry or date," Jammeh said while swearing in 15 ministers of his new government. "If you think it is human rights to destroy our culture, you are making a great mistake because if you are in the Gambia, you are in the wrong place then."

In [Gambia] homosexuality is punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment, for men and women. Jammeh has threatened to introduce even stricter laws.

Jammeh has ruled The Gambia after seizing power in a military coup in 1994. In recent years the West African dictator has attracted international attention for his anti-gay rhetoric and violent threats. In May and June 2008, the Gambian leader ordered all homosexuals to leave the country and promised to "cut off the head"of any gay man remained in the West African nation.

Jammeh has also threatened to fire all gay and lesbian officers serving in the military.

Same-sex acts are currently illegal in at least 38 of 54 African countries. Four nations—Mauritania, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan—boast the death penalty for gays or same-sex activity. South Africa and Seychelles are the only African nations that protect LGBT rights. South Africa is also the only African nation to guarantee marriage equality.

Some Background  ...
Gambian Pres. Threatens to "Cut Off the Head" of Homosexuals
UN Rep Expelled After Doubting President's AIDS "Cure"
Gambian President Can Cure "HIV"
Gambian President Threatens to Fire All Gay Soldiers
UN Chief Urges African Leaders to Respect Gay Rights

ICC Refers Malawi to UN Security Council Over Sudan's Bashir

PHOTO: Reuters

The International Criminal Court in The Hague has referred the southern African nation of Malawi to the UN Security Council for refusing to arrest Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir.

Malawi and Chad hosted Bashir in October for trade summits. This was despite the fact there is an outstanding ICC arrest warrant for Bashir on charges of war crimes and genocide in Sudan's Darfur region.

Malawi, the court said, argued that customary international law creates an exception for heads of state wanted for international crimes. "The judges noted that immunity for heads of state before international courts has been rejected time and time again dating all the way back to World War I," the court said.

Bashir's case is fast becoming a regional flash point. "Many African leaders accuse the ICC of only investigating alleged war crimes in Africa and ignoring those committed elsewhere," notes the BBC. Last week, the Ivory Coast's ex-president became the first former head of state to face judges at the ICC.

Chad, Kenya and Djibouti have also been referred to the UN Security Council for refusing to arrest Mr Bashir, even though they recognise the ICC.

Last month, a Kenyan court criticised the government for failing to arrest Mr Bashir when he visited in August and issued its own warrant. Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula said the government would appeal against the ruling and it would not arrest Mr Bashir if he visited again. "We have voiced concerns about the manner in which the ICC has been pursuing African leaders and leaving leaders with much, much heavier responsibility of human rights and murderous actions," he said, pointing to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So far, at least 300,000 people have been killed and more than 2.5 million displaced in the civil war between the Khartoum government and Darfur provinces.

In related news: Gambian lawyer Fatou Bensouda has been officially elected as the ICC's new chief prosecutor . Bensouda becomes the first African to "hold the top post at a time when the ICC is almost exclusively focused on the continent," reports Al Jazeera.

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WIKILEAKS: Gambian Leader Confirms Threat to "Cut Off the Head" of "Any Homosexual"

The President of The Gambia confirmed making violent anti-gay threats, such as vowing to "cut off the head" of "any homosexual"—but dismissed them as rhetoric and insisted he was "not a monster." That according to a series of confidential State Department cables leaked by WikiLeaks and released in the Spanish newspaper El Pais (translation).

Read the cable HERE.

The February 2010 meeting between American Ambassador Barry L. Wells and President Yahya Jammeh reveal the American government was concerned about extreme homophobic statements from the West African leader, such as the decapitation threat and an order for all homosexuals to leave the country.

"Yes I did make those comments but did I actually cut off anyone's head? Have I ever arrested anyone for being gay? No, but Senegal has arrested and imprisoned someone for being gay and they receive the [Millennium Development Goals]. There are gays here in The Gambia, I know that. But they live in secret and that is fine with me, as long as long as they go about their business in private we don't mind. But if you are talking about marrying in this country, that will never happen. We will never accept gays."

The reference to neighboring Senegal was to the December 2008 arrest of eight gay HIV/AIDS activists. After being sentenced to eight years hard labor for "indecent conduct and unnatural acts", the convictions were overturned in April 2009.

"The dozens of cables sent to Washington by diplomats on the continent [show] homophobia is rampant in the streets and government offices in Africa," reports El Pais.

Jammeh also threatened to fire all gay and lesbian officers serving in the military.

The Gambian dictator's private comments are similar to those by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni—whose 25-year term was extended over the weekend—who also dismissed extreme anti-gay public statements. 

Some Background  ...
Gambian Pres. Threatens to "Cut Off the Head" of Homosexuals
UN Rep Expelled After Doubting President's AIDS "Cure"
Gambian President Can Cure "HIV"
WIKILEAKS: Cables Show Ugandan Mockery of Kato

Gambian President Threatens to Fire All Gay Soldiers in Military

Promising that his nation has "zero tolerance" for homosexuality, the President of The Gambia addressed newly promoted army chiefs and threatened to fire all gay and lesbian officers serving in the military, according to Freedom Newspaper, a Gambia-focused website:

"We will not encourage lesbianism and homosexuality in the military. It is a taboo in our armed forces. I will sack any soldier suspected of being a gay, or lesbian in The Gambia. We need no gays in our armed forces," President Yahya Jammeh said. The Gambian leader said soldiers whose sexual orientation is gay should contemplate leaving the army, as his Government have zero tolerance for gays. The President advised the army chiefs to monitor the activities of their men, and deal with soldiers bent on practicing lesbianism in the military. The President wants the newly hired army chiefs to weed out suspected gays in the army. Although, there is no evidence of lesbianism being practiced in the country’s military. The President said he wants a Professional army free of gays, and saboteurs.

In recent years the West African dictator has attracted international attention for his anti-gay rhetoric and violent threats. In May and June 2008, the Gambian leader ordered all homosexuals to leave the country and promised to "cut off the head"of any gay man remained in the West African nation.

An anonymous Gambian official tells the website the president has "gone nuts": "He does not remember some of the things he said. I am sure his statement on gays will offend the gay community. He wants to comment on issues he doesn’t have any clue about. This is the type of president we have in the Gambia. He even threatened to fire female soldiers suspected of skin bleaching."

Some Background 
Gambian Pres. Threatens to "Cut Off the Head" of Homosexuals 
UN Rep Expelled After Doubting President's AIDS "Cure" 
Gambian President Can Cure "HIV"

Rights Group Criticizes Gambian Dictator's Anti-Gay Death Threats

An update to the recent outrageous threats issued by a West African dictator who threatened to kill all homosexuals.

Three weeks ago, Yahya Jammeh, the president of The Gambia, ordered all homosexuals to leave the country and promised to "cut off the head" of any gay man remaining in the West African nation. The grandiose dictator, who also claims he can cure HIV/AIDS, also threatened legal action against any hotel, motel or landlord renting to known homosexuals.

New York-based Human Rights Watch criticizes the despicable comments and threats of anti-gay violence. "We urge you to publicly disavow threats and vilification directed against gays and lesbian people in Gambia," says the open letter signed by Scott Long, director of HRW's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Program. "We ask you to affirm publicly and without equivocation that all people should enjoy their rights regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity," he wrote.

Long also "called on Jammeh to ask police to release all people still detained on charges or under suspicion of homosexual conduct and refrain from such arrests." Reportedly, about two weeks after Jammeh's outrageous public statements, two Spaniards "were arrested and accused of making a homosexual advance to two taxi drivers."

Let's wish for the best for our brothers and sisters in The Gambia and across Africa. The political climate in the States may not be to our liking, but, its a helluva lot better than what these people have to endure.

Rights group urges Gambian leader to disavow threats [AFP]

Some Background ...
Gambian President Threatens to "Cut Off the Head" of Homosexuals [R20]
Gambia: UN Rep Expelled After Doubting President's AIDS "Cure" [R20]
Gambian President Can Cure "HIV" [R20]

Gambian President Threatens to "Cut Off the Head" of Homosexuals

The President of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, issues a despicable threat: He will "cut off the head" of any homosexual caught in his country.

The Gambia is a mostly Muslim country of 1.7 million people in West Africa that punishes homosexual acts, even in private, with up to seven years in prison. Jammeh now orders gay men and lesbians to leave the country within 24 hours or face "serious consequences."

Jammeh also ordered any hotel or motel housing homosexuals to close down, adding that owners of such facilities would also be in trouble.

He said the Gambia was a country of believers, indicating that no sinful and immoral act as homosexual would be tolerated in the country.

He warned all homosexuals in the country to leave, noting that a legislation “stricter than those in Iran ” concerning the vice would be introduced soon.

President Jammeh has ruled the former British colony since a bloodless coup in 1994. In February 2007, Rod 2.0 reported the dictator horrified the scientific community after announcing he developed a "miracle cure" for HIV/AIDS. Reportedly, hundreds of Gambians lined up to be "cured" by the president's herbal remedy. United Nations officials were expelled after publicly objecting to Yammeh's quackery. Unfortunately, this new threat may be more realistic than his previous dramatic claims.

So far, the United States and the United Nations have not issued a public position on Jammeh's statement. Given the Bush Administration's history of comforting dictators and consorting with anti-gay despots, none is expected.

President Plans to Kill Every Single Homosexual [Afrik]

Some Background ...
Gambia: UN Rep Expelled After Doubting President's AIDS "Cure" [R20]
Gambian President Can Cure "HIV" [R20]