Newspaper prints gay men list
2006-09-11 08:05
New York - A Ugandan newspaper's decision to publish the names of alleged homosexual men is a chilling development in the African country's vilification of gay people, says a United States-based human rights watchdog.
It said the publication of the first names, workplaces and other identifying information of the 45 men could be foreshadowing a government crackdown in the country, where sodomy was a crime punishable with life in prison.
Human Rights Watch researcher Jessica Stern said: "For years, President Yoweri Museveni's government routinely threatens and vilifies lesbians and gays, and subjects sexual rights activists to harassment.
"At a moment when sensational publicity has spread fear among a whole community, the authorities must exercise their responsibility to protect, not persecute."
The rights group said the list of names was published in the tabloid newspaper, "Red Pepper", last month and that the paper had since told activists that it planned to publish a similar list of alleged lesbians.
Human Rights Watch said similar allegations by the newspaper had led to police action.