EU blasts Nigeria over new anti-gay law

The European Union has joined the league of foreign countries and human rights bodies condemning the signing of Same sex Marriage Prohibition Act into law by President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, said EU is concerned about the signing of the Act into law as it violates freedom of association guaranteed by Nigeria 1999 Constitution as well several international agreements and legal obligations which the country is a party to.

The statement reads in part: “The European Union is opposed to discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. It is firmly committed to fundamental human rights and the rule of law in respect of those rights, including freedom of association, conscience and speech and the equality of persons.

“It supports the respect of human rights in all countries of the world.

“I am therefore particularly concerned that some provisions of the Act appear to be in contradiction with those fundamental rights, which are themselves guaranteed by Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, and to be inconsistent with the legal obligations enshrined in a number of international agreements to which Nigeria is a party.”