LAGOS, Nigeria (Reuters) — The latest 57 boys stumbled out from the back off a dark colored cops vehicle with the shine regarding a warm courtyard and you can a beneficial phalanx regarding cams. Particular clutched another’s hands, because if to own comfort. They in-line for the wooden seats about dirt, a great deal of her or him seeking to mask the face, rather than thriving.
Standing behind a lender from microphones, this new Lagos condition cops commissioner, Imohimi Edgal, informed the gathered journalists that he actually had purchased brand new raid that trapped brand new males following government received a beneficial tipoff one young men was indeed getting initiated into a great “gay bar.”
A police raid, viral videos and the damaged life regarding Nigerian gay rules suspects
Edgal elizabeth Sex Relationships Prohibition Act. One rules, hence received around the globe condemnation if it came into push in 2014, objectives not only same-sex unions but gay relations as a whole having prison terms of as much as fourteen age.
“It is the obligations of everyone, just the authorities, so that like antisocial behavior, such as for example public habits, such as crimes, are seemed in order that we can would teams one to manage our very own people off such as for instance deviant choices,” he told you.
The brand new cams panned along the face of your people, capturing phrases regarding guilt, worry and you may anger. Many of them remained hushed, however, anybody else replied journalists’ issues.
“What’s the concept of a homosexual? It’s if you find yourself stuck having sex, sex, which have a person. It did not ces Brown, a great wiry child which said he had been hired to help you moving in the a birthday party along with done no problem.
The word “they failed to trapped me” quickly ran widespread. Footage of one’s press conference keeps while the come seen alot more than half a million moments. Loved ones, acquaintances and you can visitors the learned of the accusations regarding films one circulated on line.
History November, shortly after more per year of judge hearings, Brownish is certainly 47 men exactly who pleaded simple to an effective charges out of personal displays away from passion by individuals of a similar sex. Arrest deserves was basically approved into the 10 almost every other guys exactly who were not successful to arise in courtroom. Within the a good landmark instance that may reach its solution which week, the brand new men face a decade into the prison if convicted not as much as the new 2014 laws, with not ever been familiar with safe a belief.
However, prison date if any, the fresh guys currently penalized. In this resolutely Religious and you may Muslim nation, homosexuality is actually generally declined across area, because the relaxed as the a great snub in the pub so when serious while the Sharia law you to definitely threatens demise of the stoning.
Among guys try a married dad regarding five whom states he previously determined visitors to the latest class to make more currency. For a while, he ran as opposed to power since the guy couldn’t pay bills once are fired; even yet in the brand new darkness from their family, the strain anywhere between your along with his girlfriend is actually noticeable to a beneficial checking out Reuters blogger. Other kid slept in the a chapel outhouse after his family members threw him out, until he was fundamentally throw of you to secure harbor, too. A 3rd guy lives in anxiety about the trail toughs just who have defeated your up three times after recognizing him in the viral films of your perp go. And also the boy who was simply celebrating his birthday celebration prevented stop however, is now overrun from the shame, enjoying blame in their friends’ eyes.
They are reports of existence broken by a birthday celebration later one night in Lagos – by a people one cast the fresh guys adrift.
The household Boy
Doing 2 for the a weekend morning, they streamed out of the strengthening, running in virtually any advice. Within minutes, this new birthday celebration at a great Lagos resort became a good stampede as someone fled armed policemen who had bust into substance.
