Calls last week from gay rights group OutRage! to pile international pressure on the Nigerian government have been blasted as unhelpful and counterproductive by New York-based NGO Human Rights Watch. On Friday, Peter Tatchell urged gay and lesbian people to contact the Nigerian goverment to show their opposition to draconian new laws aimed at outlawing same-sex marriage and restricting other gay rights. Mr Tatchell asserted that the anti-gay legislation was actively being debated in the Nigerian Parliament and could become law imminently. Human Rights Watch have attacked Mr Tatchell and OutRage, saying there is no evidence that the law is about to be passed, and that Nigerian activists hope that the legislation will not become law at all. HRW said in a statement to PinkNews.co.uk, "there is no evidence right now that the bill is moving forward. It has been stalled in committee in the legislature for months. "While some action on it is still technically possible, the legislature is now winding down and readying for elections," a statment from HRW's Scott Long says. "They're not likely to take up the bill unless something, such as an international campaign, pushes them to." Mr Tathcell responded to Mr Long's claims in a statement to PinkNews.co.uk. "OutRage! was not aware, until Scott mentioned it, of any change of tactics over this draconian legislation. "It is a pity the international LGBTI movement was not informed when the decision was taken to de-escalate the campaign against the Bill. This would have avoided the current situation. "The last thing OutRage! heard, early in 2006, was a call for an international campaign to lobby the Nigerian government. This is what OutRage! (and many other LGBTI groups) have been doing since then." Ref: Pinknews.co.uk (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 24th January 2007 - 12:00pm