The Gambia's Foreign Minister Neneh MacDouall-Gaye, a Gambian who lived in the US until her appointment in January, said at an EU event this weekend that the country's government would observe international laws, but would continue to protect religious beliefs and traditions.
"If you read in between the lines, the foreign minister is also trying to say, 'We are not going to accept homosexuality,' " Camara said.
"The president already made the Gambians believe that the reason the EU cut funding to him is because of homosexuality."
The Gambia is one of 38 countries across Africa where homosexuality is illegal, and the small nation of less than 2 million people has not gone soft on suspected gay citizens and activists. In November alone, eight people — including women and a 17-year-old boy — were arrested during a government crackdown on homosexuality. The detainees were taken to the headquarters of the feared National Intelligence Agency, where they were told that a device would be inserted into their ****** or **** in order to determine their sexual orientation if they did not confess to being gay, according to Amnesty International.
Camara said that three men are still behind bars awaiting trial, unable to pay the $50,000 bail set for their release, adding that as part of their punishment the men are forced to study the Quran, pray five times a day, and are told that they must get married. Their lawyer is currently trying to negotiate their bail.
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https://news.vice.com/article/gambian-president-says-he-will-slit-gay-mens-throats-in-public-speech
"If you read in between the lines, the foreign minister is also trying to say, 'We are not going to accept homosexuality,' " Camara said.
"The president already made the Gambians believe that the reason the EU cut funding to him is because of homosexuality."
The Gambia is one of 38 countries across Africa where homosexuality is illegal, and the small nation of less than 2 million people has not gone soft on suspected gay citizens and activists. In November alone, eight people — including women and a 17-year-old boy — were arrested during a government crackdown on homosexuality. The detainees were taken to the headquarters of the feared National Intelligence Agency, where they were told that a device would be inserted into their ****** or **** in order to determine their sexual orientation if they did not confess to being gay, according to Amnesty International.
Camara said that three men are still behind bars awaiting trial, unable to pay the $50,000 bail set for their release, adding that as part of their punishment the men are forced to study the Quran, pray five times a day, and are told that they must get married. Their lawyer is currently trying to negotiate their bail.
more
https://news.vice.com/article/gambian-president-says-he-will-slit-gay-mens-throats-in-public-speech