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Content about Gambia

May 17, 2013
Anti-LGBT villains of 2013 named by Human Rights Watch

Gambia president, Ukraine MP and American legal center named in Human Rights Watch's IDAHO 2013 Hall of Shame

International rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) released its 2013 Hall of Shame for IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) today.

Gambian president Yahya Jammeh was named for his 'persistent' homophobia. He directly addressed LGBT people in parliament in March saying 'if you are convicted of homosexuality in this country, there will be no mercy for offenders'.

HRW report that 20 people were charged with committing 'unnatural offenses' in the Gambia in 2012, but were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

March 30, 2013
Gay people are satanic, anti god and anti human, rants Gambia’s president

Yahya Jammeh, president of Gambia, attacked gay people and warned: do not ever visit the country or ‘you will regret why you are born’ 

Gambia’s president Yahya Jammeh, ranted against gay people in his speech addressing the country’s parliament.

He called homosexuality ‘satanic’, as well as ‘anti-god, anti-human, and anti-civilization’.

October 26, 2012
House of Lords call for end to global gay hate

UK's Lib-Dem, Tory and Labour Lords and Baronesses stand up for gay rights in short, late afternoon debate

The House of Lords has called for a stronger government stance against the mistreatment of gay men and women in the developing world.

Members of the British parliament's upper house united in a debate led by Conservative peer Lord Lexden yesterday (25 October).

August 3, 2012
Gambia gay court case collapses but defendants still at risk

While the 18 defendants are relieved the case against them collapsed, they now have become social outcasts and may be in danger of homophobia and persecution

A court in Gambia has dropped charges against 18 men who had been arrested in April and alleged with homosexuality.

The public prosecutor informed the court on Wednesday (1 August) that there was insufficient evidence to continue with the case.

If the men had been convicted of homosexuality they would have violated the country’s strict article 144 of the Gambian criminal code, which stipulates a punishment of up to 14 years imprisonment.

July 19, 2012
Police testify against gay men arrested in Gambia

Trial of 18 men arrested for being gay in Gambia hears how police officers raided a bar in the capital Banjul

Police have described how they raided a gay bar in Gambia during a trial of 18 people arrested for being homosexual.

Two officers were called by the prosecution to testify against the men who were arrested at a bar in the suburbs of the capital Banjul on 6 April, reported allAfrica.com

The men were charged with 'indecent practice between a male' and they all pleaded not guilty.

April 24, 2012
No room for 'evil' gays in Gambia, says president

President of Gambia in West Africa compares gays and lesbians to donkeys and zebras

The president of Gambia says his country has 'no room for gays and lesbians'.

Yahya Jammeh made the comments at the Legislative Chambers, while presiding over the 2012 State Opening of the National Assembly.

Referring to Western pressure for the African country to improve gay rights and threats to withdraw aid if it doesn't, he said: 'If you want us to be ungodly for you to give us aid, take your aid away, we will survive. We will rather eat grass than accept this ungodly evil attitude that is anti-God, anti-human and anti-creation.

April 11, 2012
At least 15 men arrested in the Gambia, suspected of being gay

Reports that a raid on a bar in the capital Banjul resulted in 15 arrests, some may be under-age

Reports from the Gambia say that at least 15 men 'suspected of homosexuality' were arrested at a bar in the suburbs of the capital Banjul late on Monday night.

Gambian police sources told AFP that they had received a tip off that people were ‘publicly displaying or promoting homosexual activities’.

February 15, 2012
Gambia President ignores calls for gay rights in Africa

Gays 'destroy our culture', says the President of Gambia in West Africa

The President of Gambia says gay people 'destroy' culture, despite pressure from the West to improve human rights in Africa.

Yahya Jammeh made the comments yesterday as he swore in 15 ministers of his new government, the South African Press Association reported.

He said: 'We know what human rights are. Human beings of the same sex cannot marry or date.