President Of Burundi Incites Homophobia.
In a shocking statement, the President of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye, stated today that same-sex marriage is an abominable practice and that homosexuals should be stoned to death, for choosing the devil and attracting God's curse.
This statement, made at a public conference in the eastern province of Cankuzo and broadcast on radio and television, while answering questions from the press and the public, is a shame for Africa, transporting us once again to the third world.
The Declaration
Évariste Ndayishimiye, the President of Burundi, declared today that the marriage “between people of the same sex is an abominable practice” and homosexual couples should be “stoned to death", because "chose the devil” and attract “curse" God's.
The head of state of this conservative country, where same-sex relationships are punishable by prison sentences of up to two years, made these statements at a public conference in the eastern province of Cankuzo, broadcast on radio and television, while answering questions from the press and the public.
“Personally, I think if we see people like that in Burundi, we should put them in a stadium and stone them to death. And it would not be a sin for anyone who did so.”
Ndayishimiye declared that he had already appealed this year to “prohibition” of homosexuals and their “treatment as pariahs".
The President also criticized Western countries, which regularly express their opposition to violations of the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Burundi and Africa.
“Whoever chose the devil must go and live in these [Western] countries.”
“In fact, I believe that those who go into exile in these countries go there to adopt these practices (…) May they never return,” he said.
Burundi's Retrograde Law
Known for its Christian conservatism, Burundi's Penal Code, since 2009, punishes homosexual relationships and consensual relationships between people of the same sex, with fines and prison sentences ranging from three months to more than two years in prison.
In March, 24 people were accused of “homosexual practices or incitement to homosexual practices” and were arrested. Seven of them were sentenced, five to two years in prison and two to one year in prison.
In East Africa, as in many other countries on the continent, LGBTQ+ people are stigmatized and discriminated against in conservative societies, predominantly Christian or Muslim, where homosexuality is taboo.
In Uganda, another East African country, a law passed by parliament in May, which severely represses homosexual practices and “promotion of homosexuality“, aroused strong Western condemnation and sanctions from the United States.
What do you think of this promotion of homophobia by the President of Burundi? We want to know your opinion, do not hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share and give a “like/like”.
See also:
Picture: © Alexey Danichev
