Punishments for Homosexual "crimes" in Nigeria

Link to article: BBC


A Nigerian man recieved 20 lashes in an Islamic court after they convicted him of homosexual offences. Nigeria has followed Sharia, also known as Islamic law, since its past up even up to the present. Most states accept it and follow it strictly. In Nigeria there has been recent pushes and new legislations for bans on gay-marriages, and public displays of affection. Punishments range from a number of lashings to being stoned to death. The Nigerian man convicted, Ibrahim, felt as if he got off easy with 20 lashings from a whip soaked in animal oil.

Nigeria, even most of Africa, is considered a homophobic country. Persecution of gays is widely spread, including the murder of gays and torture by policemen. In comparison to America, persecution of gays also plagues it's history. Similar to Nigeria, when our country was founded it was closely knitted with religious principles. America's being Christianity, Nigeria's being Islam. Both religions believe homosexuality to be a sin. The Great Awakening left a major imprint on newly founded America, and religion was very much apart of politics for awhile. During America's development into a super power, Religion became more a negligible influence on politics in the U.S. In Nigeria, religion is still very much apart of politics, and this indefinitely affects the turnout on gay-legislation.

 In recent legislation, pursuit for equal rights for gays is popular in the U.S. There has been a push in many states to legalize gay marriage, and some have already done so. Nigeria is the total opposite. I believe this is primarily because Nigeria does not separate church and state. I found it interesting how they still offer primitive forms of punishment for crimes. Lashings and being stoned to death? You see them in the bible. It goes to show Nigeria's strong conservatism and how they like to stick with old traditional values, especially ones that coincide with Islamic law.