Gambia: president threatens to slit throats of gay men

[shenmue]

Story here

[RKP5637]

1. What an evil diabolical creature he is! n/t

[Iggo]

2. Yeah, but is he a brave ally in our War On Terror?

Our country puts up with all kinds of atrocities if you're in the War On Terror Club. (I'm lookin' at you, Saudi Arabia.)

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Hopefully, your thread will have a few more comments than mine, or at least more reads!

From The Washington Post"

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh is one of the world's most quixotic dictators, a man who has ruled his tiny sliver of a nation for two decades with an iron fist, an extensive network of secret police and a seemingly endless stream of outrageous proclamations.

His latest inflammatory remarks came last week at a rally in the town of Farafeni. According to Vice News, which received a translation of Jammeh's speech, delivered in the region's Wolof language, Jammeh sounded a dire warning to homosexuals living in his country.

"If you do it [in Gambia] I will slit your throat," Jammeh said. "If you are a man and want to marry another man in this country and we catch you, no one will ever set eyes on you again, and no white person can do anything about it."

The Gambian leader is notorious for his homophobic views and, judging from his comments here, seems undeterred by recent condemnation from the international community. Last year, the European Union cut aid to the West African nation over its woeful human rights record, which included the country's introduction in October of a tough anti-homosexuality law that could lead to life sentences in prison.

Jammeh, for his part, has made no secret of his disapproval of homosexuality. He's not alone, particularly on the African continent, but his vitriol stands him apart.

more...

[KamaAina]

7. "and no white person can do anything about it."

Wow! A side of racism to go with the homophobia platter!

[RKP5637]

4. And it gets a ho hum on DU!

[Starry Messenger]

5. Fuck.

I'd make a snarky comment in light of other threads on civil rights, but this is pretty fucking bad.

[KamaAina]

6. What does Gambia export?

That we can boycott?