Fri 13 Jul 2012 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Daniel Zamudio The brutal fatal beating of a young gay man has led to Chile introducing an anti-discrimination law. In March, 24-year-old Daniel Zamudio was attacked in a Santiago park, beaten for an hour and burned with cigarettes by a group of Neo Nazis, who carved swastikas into his skin. He died in hospital 20 days later. Four suspects, some with criminal records for attacks on gay men, have been jailed in Zamudio's killing. Prosecutors are seeking murder charges. After seven years making little progress in Congress, a hate-crime bill has been signed into law by conservative president Sebastian Pinera, toughening the sentences for such crimes. "Without a doubt, Daniel's death was painful but it was not in vain," Pinera said at a press conference joined by Zamudio's parents. "His passing not only unified wills to finally approve this anti-discrimination law but it also helped us examine our conscience and ask ourselves: have we ever discriminated someone? ... After his death we'll think twice, thrice or four times before we fall prey to that behaviour." Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela all have laws to combat discrimination.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 13th July 2012 - 7:01pm