Move over, Uganda. The idea of criminalizing homosexual acts has metastasized, cancer-like, and spread beyond your borders. According to reports from the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and others, debate will begin in the Rwandan parliament tomorrow on a revision of the penal code that will criminalize "[a]ny person who practices, encourages or sensitizes people of the same sex, to sexual relation or any sexual practice." The proposed revision, Article 217, provides sentences of 5-10 years for anyone convicted of these acts. A vote on it could come as early as next week.The new legislation in Rwanda follows closely on the heels of similar legislation proposed in Uganda though, so far, without the death penalty the Ugandan law allows for. As is the case in Uganda, a number of American evangelical churches such as Rick Warren's Saddleback Church are deeply involved in Rwanda. Pastor Warren released a statement last week condemning the Ugandan legislation but has not said anything yet about the proposed Rwandan law.
Rwanda, an impoverished central African nation that shares a border with Uganda, is best known today for the 1994 tribal genocide that cost the lives of 800,000 of its people.
Photo Credit:
1) map of Rwanda
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Comments
It figures that Rwanda would be influenced by US evangelicalism. I think we seen of this already, say back in 92-93.
Precisely because of the 94 genocide, the Rwandan constitution bans discrimination of all forms - i seriously doubt that a law criminalising homosexuality will pass in parliament, even if a few moralist MPs are behind the working proposal. why dont we wait and see what the new law looks like when it comes out next week?
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