Nigeria president signs anti-gay legislation News
Nigeria president signs anti-gay legislation
Photo source or description

[JURIST] Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan [official profile] signed the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act into law on Monday, prompting condemnation throughout the international community. The law bans same-sex marriage and criminalizes [AP report] homosexual associations, societies and meetings and carries a punishment of up to 14 years imprisonment. Though sodomy is already a crime in Nigeria, the law marks a crackdown [Reuters report] on homosexuals in Nigeria. US Secretary of State John Kerry [official website] released a statement [text] condemning the law as a “danger[ous] restrict[ion] on freedom of assembly, association and expression for all Nigerians” and inconsistent with Nigeria’s international legal obligations.

Homosexuality is illegal in 37 African countries [CGE backgrounder], and South Africa is the only country on the continent [BBC report] where same-sex marriage is not prohibited. In May 2012 Malawi’s President Joyce Banda announced [JURIST report] that she would move to decriminalize homosexual acts. However, Malawi’s government reversed its position [JURIST report] in November 2012 in response to backlash from from church groups. In 2011 the US announced [JURIST report] measures to combat international criminalization of homosexuality by considering gay rights in granting foreign aid. In 2010 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called upon [JURIST report] countries throughout the world to abolish laws that discriminate against homosexuals.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.