A sweepingly homophobic bill being fast-tracked through Nigeria's National Assembly threatens human rights and Nigeria's democratic progress, says lobby group Human Rights Watch. If passed, the bill would mean anyone who speaks out or forms a group supporting lesbian and gay people's rights would be imprisoned. Virtually any public discussion or visibility around lesbian and gay lives would be silenced. "This law strikes a blow not just at the rights of lesbian and gay people, but at the civil and political freedoms of all Nigerians," said Scott Long, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program at Human Rights Watch. "But lawmakers are pushing this repressive bill through with a minimum of public scrutiny or debate." The bill is entitled the "Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act." In its last published version, it would impose a five-year prison sentence on anyone who "goes through the ceremony of marriage with a person of the same sex." Anyone, including a priest or cleric, who "performs, witnesses, aids or abets the ceremony of same sex marriage," would face the same sentence. It goes beyond that, however, to punish any positive representation of or advocacy for the rights of lesbian and gay people. Anyone "involved in the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, sustenance, procession or meetings, publicity and public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly in public and in private," would be subject to the same sentence. The legislation was first introduced in January 2006 by Nigeria's minister of justice, Bayo Ojo. It lay dormant for months in the National Assembly, as nationwide elections scheduled for April 2007 drew near. On February 12, 2007, however, a public hearing was called in the House of Representatives Women's Affairs Committee with only two days' notice. A coalition of Nigerian human rights organisations opposed to the bill was initially told it could not address the hearing, as it was by invitation only. Although the groups were later allowed to speak, the bill has apparently moved forward rapidly in both Nigeria's House and Senate without further public debate. It is reportedly poised for a third reading in the Senate on 1 March, after which it could become law. "If the national assembly can strip one group of its freedoms, then the liberties of all Nigerians are at risk," said Long. "The secrecy and speed with which this law is being forced forward suggests lawmakers want to hide its threats to Nigeria's democratic progress." The proposed law violates Nigeria's commitments under international human rights law, Long also points out. Ref: Reuters (m)