Gay couples face jail threat

Nigeria’s senate has passed a bill to criminalise gay marriage and any same-sex “amorous relationship”, a major step in putting in place a law that has drawn widespread criticism in western countries.

The senate yesterday increased the punishment for gay marriage from the five years’ imprisonment originally proposed in the draft bill to 14 years. The legislation must be passed by the house of representatives and signed by president Goodluck Jonathan before it becomes law.

“Persons who entered into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union commit an offence and are each liable on conviction to a term of 14 years in prison,” the bill says.

“Any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations, or directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationship … shall each be liable on conviction to a term of ten years in prison.”

Two similar bills have been proposed since 2006 but failed to pass before the expiry of the parliamentary term. The current national assembly has more than three years left to run.