Nigerian sentenced to death for admitting to gay relations
{{date|July 9, 2005}}
{{w|Philip Alston}}, an official with the [[United Nations]] is decrying a [[Nigeria]]n court decision to sentence a 50-year-old man to death by {{w|stoning}} after he admitted to having {{w|sexual intercourse|sex}} with another man. Reports have not named the individual.

The incident in question happened after the 50-year-old man was acquitted of charges that he had sexual relations with a much younger man. During further questioning, the judge asked the accused if he ever had sex with any other men. 

Upon answering yes, the judge convicted the man of {{wikt|sodomy}} and sentenced him to [[death penalty|death]] by stoning.

Nigeria, the most populous [[Africa]]n country, is one of many countries that has started to adopt [[Sharia]], or traditional [[Islam]]ic law as detailed in the {{w|Qur'an|Koran}}. Since 2000, 12 of Nigeria's northernmost states have adopted Sharia codes for their courtrooms. Under Islamic law, [[homosexual]] conduct is a [[crime and law|crime]] punishable by death.

"Sodomy cannot be considered one of the most serious crimes for which, under international law, the death penalty can be prescribed. The punishment is wholly disproportionate," Alston, {{w|United Nations special rapporteur|U.N. Special Rapporteur}} on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, said in  a written statement Friday.

Nigeria's southern states are mostly [[Christian]] and do not follow Sharia law.

== Sources ==

*{{source
|url    = http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1410598.htm
|title  = Nigerian man sentenced to stoning for gay sex
|author = 
|pub    = ABC (Australia)
|date   = July 9, 2005
}}
*{{source
|url    = http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=14947&Cr=nigeria&Cr1=
|title  = UN expert on extrajudicial killings cites continuing lapses in Nigeria
|author = 
|pub    = United Nations
|date   = July 9, 2005
}}
*{{source
|url    = http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L08185706.htm
|title  = Nigerian faces death for sodomy in Sharia case-U.N.
|author = 
|pub    = Reuters
|date   = July 8, 2005
}}


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[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Human rights]]
[[Category:LGBT]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:United Nations]]
[[Category:Shari'a]]
[[Category:Islam]]
[[Category:Nigeria]]
[[Category:Death penalty]]
stoning after he admitted to having sex with another man. Reports have not named the individual.

The incident in question happened after the 50-year-old man was acquitted of charges that he had sexual relations with a much younger man. During further questioning, the judge asked the accused if he ever had sex with any other men. 

Upon answering yes, the judge convicted the man of  and sentenced him to death by stoning.

Nigeria, the most populous African country, is one of many countries that has started to adopt Sharia, or traditional Islamic law as detailed in the Koran. Since 2000, 12 of Nigeria's northernmost states have adopted Sharia codes for their courtrooms. Under Islamic law, homosexual conduct is a crime punishable by death.

"Sodomy cannot be considered one of the most serious crimes for which, under international law, the death penalty can be prescribed. The punishment is wholly disproportionate," Alston, U.N. Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, said in  a written statement Friday.

Nigeria's southern states are mostly Christian and do not follow Sharia law.
Africa Crime and law Human rights LGBT Religion United Nations Shari'a Islam Nigeria Death penalty