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Gambia's president on Thursday announced that gays and lesbians have 24 hours to leave the country or face death. President Yahya Jammeh has said previously that he is seeking a crackdown even harsher than that in Iran, according to Afrol News.
Gambia's president on Thursday announced that gays, lesbians, and "criminals" have 24 hours to leave the country or face death. President Yahya Jammeh has said previously that he is seeking a crackdown even harsher than that in Iran, according to Afrol News.
"Foreigners are cordially welcomed in The Gambia, but not bad elements," he said at a rally outside Banjul, Gambia's capital.
He also ordered landlords and hotel owners to evict gays before a mass search is conducted by security forces.
In response, Peter Tatchell of British gay rights group OutRage! said the threats are no surprise.
"The Gambian leader, Yahya Jammeh, has a long history of homophobia and has promoted crackpot cures for HIV," Tatchell said in a press release. "He'll have to kill an awful lot of Gambians and foreign aid workers and tourists to get rid of gays and lesbians."
A government ousting of gays violates the African Union's Charter on Human Rights and could spur a withdrawal of international aid for Gambia. (The Advocate)
