Against the grain of history: Nigeria bans gay marriage.
A law approved by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan provides for a 14-year prison sentence for anyone who marries or lives in a civil partnership with a person of the same sex in the country.
From Agência Brasil *
Brasilia - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan today (13) approved a law banning same-sex marriage and civil unions, his spokesman, Reuben Abati, said. The law provides for 14 years in prison for anyone who marries or lives in a de facto union with a person of the same sex. Marriages performed abroad are not recognized in Nigeria.
Anyone who is in any way connected to homosexual clubs or organizations, or who publicly displays such a relationship, can also be punished with up to ten years in prison, according to the new law. Jonathan says he signed the law because it is consistent with the attitude of most of the country's inhabitants towards homosexuality.
"More than 90% of Nigerians oppose same-sex marriage. Therefore, the law is in line with our cultural and religious beliefs," the spokesperson explained.
Amnesty International had called on the Nigerian president to reject the bill, calling it "discriminatory."
* With information from the Lusa news agency