Popular Nigerian Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie has reacted to a Sharia Court sentencing 3 Nigerian men to death by stoning for being gay.
The controversial filmmaker expressed his disappointment via his Instagram page, where he wondered why one’s sexuality would warrant death sentence.
He wrote: “Stoning a man to death because he is Gay is wrong! Totally wrong! I am not Gay. I don’t plan to be. But Gay people have human beings too and should have rights. I heard the judgement was passed in Bauchi. How can you kill a human being because he is Gay. Condemn him if he engages in criminal activities. Condemn him if he’s a rapist. If not, leave judgement to God..”
According to the Nigerian newspaper The Guardian, the men, aged 20, 30, and 70 were sentenced by Judge Munka’ilu Sabo Ningi, under provision 134 of Bauchi State Penal Law of 2001 and Fiquhussunah Jizu’i number 2.
The men were detained by members of the Hisbah Vanguard in June.
According to Human Dignity Trust, an LGBTI+ Legal organisation, Same-sex activity is “criminalised at the state level through Sharia law, under which the maximum sentence is death by stoning. In addition to potentially being captured by laws that criminalise same-sex activity, trans people may also face prosecution under state level Sharia laws.”
“There have been consistent reports of discrimination and violence being committed against LGBT people in recent years, including assault, mob attacks, harassment, extortion, and the denial of basic rights and services.”
