Gambia will 'behead' gays
2008-05-23 07:26
Banjul - Eccentric Gambian President Yahya Jammeh threatened to behead gays unless they left the country, according to reports on Thursday.
"The Gambia is a country of believers... sinful and immoral practices (such) as homosexuality will not be tolerated in this country," the president told a crowd at a political rally on May 15, said reports.
He went on to say he would "cut off the head" of any gay person caught in The Gambia.
The anti-gay campaign continued in the Gambian pro-government media this week with the Daily Observer publishing a virulent editorial.
"We have said it before and we will say it again. This is a Muslim and Christian country. Both the Qur'an and the Holy Bible condemn homosexuality - pure and simple," the paper wrote on Monday May 19.
Govt comments 'came as no surprise'
British gay rights group Outrage said in a reaction on Thursday that the Gambian leader's comments came as no surprise. "Jammeh has a long history of homophobia," spokesperson Peter Tatchell said.
"If he tries to carry out these threats, international aid donors are likely to withdraw their support, and foreign tourists will stay away in droves, thereby damaging the Gambian economy," he added.
The tourism industry was vital to Gambia's economy as the West African nation lacked other natural resources.
Jammeh drew condemnation from African Aids groups after he claimed in January to have found a "miracle" treatment for HIV/Aids.
The method was based on medicinal plants and a Qur'anic verse. All participants were ordered to give up their antiretroviral drugs.