Nigeria ‘gay wedding’ suspects granted bail
A defence lawyer said his 69 clients would all be released on bail but first had to hand over to the court the equivalent of more than US$600 each
A court in Nigeria has granted bail to 69 people who were arrested last month after a raid on what the police described as a “gay wedding”.
Like in most African countries homosexuality is widely viewed as immoral in Nigeria. The country has strict laws against same-sex marriage.
A defence lawyer said his 69 clients would all be released on bail but first had to hand over to the court the equivalent of more than US$600 (£480) each.
Last month’s raid on a hotel in the city of Warri followed what the police said was a tip-off about a gay wedding.
Human Rights Watch criticised the Nigerian police for publicly parading the suspects before the media and interrogating them about the accusations.
Despite international condemnation, legislation was passed just under a decade ago criminalising public displays of same-sex relationships with a prison sentence of up to 10 years and up to 14 years for anyone convicted of same-sex marriage.
In 2019 police in Lagos State prosecuted 47 men under the law but the court dismissed the case because the police failed to appear and present witnesses.
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