2023-12-29 21:24:00
Same-sex relationships are punishable by up to two years in prison in the East African country of Burundi.
Same-sex marriage “abominable practice”, gay couples to be “stoned” because they have “chosen the devil” and attract the divine “curse”: Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye delivered a virulent diatribe once morest homosexuality on Friday.
The head of state of this Christian and conservative African Great Lakes country, where same-sex relations are punishable by sentences of up to two years in prison, spoke at a public conference in the province of Cankuzo (east) broadcast on radio and television, answering questions from the press and the population.
“You asked me a question regarding this abominable practice which causes a man to marry another man and a woman to marry another woman,” he declared, before evoking the Bible.
“I tell you the truth, if you want to bring a curse on a country, you have to let people of the same sex marry. Do you remember what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah? God then said: ‘ I regret having created man,’” he added.
“Personally, I think that if we see this kind of individuals in Burundi, we should put them in a stadium and stone them with stones. And it would not be a sin for those who do it!”, said Evariste Ndayishimiye , who had already called this year to “ban” homosexuals and “treat them as pariahs”.
“He who chooses the devil, let him go and live in these countries”
He also attacked Western countries, which regularly display their opposition to violations of the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
In Uganda, another East African country, a law passed in May by parliament severely repressing homosexual practices and the “promotion of homosexuality” sparked strong Western condemnations and sanctions from the United States.
“You said that Western countries are trying to force small countries to adopt this practice, and that they will not receive any aid if they do not comply. Let them keep their aid, let them keep it!” he said.
“He who has chosen the devil, let him go and live in these countries. Besides, I believe that those who go into exile in these countries go there to adopt these practices (…) Let them never come back! “, he also said.
Homosexual relations banned in the country
The Burundian Penal Code punishes homosexual relations, punishable by fines and sentences ranging from three months to two years in prison.
In March, 24 people were accused of “homosexual practices or incitement to homosexual practices” and imprisoned. Seven of them were sentenced, five to two years in prison and two others to one year in prison.
In East Africa, as in many countries on the continent, LGBTQ+ people suffer stigma and discrimination in conservative societies, whether predominantly Christian or Muslim, where homosexuality is taboo.
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