More than 200 people were arrested Monday at a wedding in Nigeria after a police raid targeting the gay community.
According to CNN, police spokesperson said that 67 people are expected to be prosecuted for
allegedly conducting and attending a same-sex wedding ceremony.”
Same-sex relationships remain illegal in the West African country, and members of the LGBTQ+ community can face yearslong prison terms under the Nigerian Penal Code.
Gay people seeking to get married can be imprisoned for up to 14 years, while so-called “accomplices” face a decade behind bars.
On Tuesday, a police official, with some of the suspects nearby, condemned the ceremony as evil,
we cannot copy the western world… we are Nigeria and we must follow the culture of this country.”
Amnesty International Nigeria has called for “an immediate end to this witch-hunt,” demanding state police release the detainees.
Amnesty International is calling on the Nigeria’s Delta state police command to immediately release the over 100 men,
— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) August 29, 2023
arrested and paraded to the media, over allegedly organizing gay marriage and put an immediate end to this witch-hunt.
(Photo, CCTV; via The Daily Beast)
