The military-led government in Niger has adopted a new criminal law that criminalizes same-sex relationships and provides for stiff prison sentences, following similar moves by other West African countries to tighten legislation against the LGBTQ+ community.
Although same-sex relationships were previously a taboo subject, they were not punishable by law in Muslim-majority Niger.
General Abdourahamane Tiani, the leader of the military government that took control in a coup in July 2023, has introduced an anti-Western political course and often criticizes certain Western values.
According to the new law, same-sex relations will be punished with a prison sentence of five to ten years, along with fines.
The law provides the same penalties for people who commit or attempt to commit an “indecent or unnatural act” as for LGBTQIA+ practices, and for those who “artificially change or attempt to change their sex at birth.”
It is also stated that persons who marry a person of the same sex will be punished with imprisonment from 10 to 20 years.
The same penalties are provided for those who “manage, lead, finance or participate in clubs, societies or organizations intended for homosexual or LGBTQIA+ people”.
Increased measures
Criminal law reform was initially launched during the tenure of civilian President Mohamed Bazoum, under pressure from religious groups and lawmakers, before he was ousted in a military coup in 2023.
Although the law entered into force in February, the public learned about it only recently, after social networks and the media published information about the alleged “widespread repression”.
Justice Minister Alio Daouda said Niger passed the law “in full responsibility and sovereignty”, stating that same-sex relations are not in line with the country’s social and cultural values.
He added that Nigeria’s position was already presented at the last session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Last year, two women were sentenced to prison terms for “public indecency”, which was then the legal basis for prosecuting possible same-sex relations, after the prosecution appealed the original acquittal.
The prosecution had previously asked for a sentence of three years in prison.
In 2024, the government removed certain sex education lessons from the school curriculum, citing that they “violated the values” of the country, and also canceled an app to raise awareness about women’s sexual and reproductive health developed by non-governmental organizations.
Niger is the latest in a series of countries to introduce or tighten such penalties.
Burkina Faso introduced five-year prison terms for same-sex relationships, Ghana announced sentences of up to three years, while Senegal recently doubled maximum sentences for similar offences.
(Vijesti.ba)
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