Muslims for Progressive Values Responds to Nigerian President Signing Anti-LGBT Legislation

Jan. 24, 2014 - PRLog -- On January 13, the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, an act that Secretary of State John Kerry said, “restricts freedom of assembly, association, and expression for all Nigerians.” According to several reports, shortly after the bill was signed into law, the government began to interrogate, arrest, and imprison people based on forced confessions extracted through torture. One man was given 20 lashes and 10 men face the strong possibility of being stoned. LGBT people and their families and friends are all in danger due to the incorporation of this draconian law that unleashes a motive to seek revenge or provoke blood-lust. In addition, the Nigerian government seeks to use LGBT people as a scapegoat for political reasons with hate fueled by religious bigotry.

MPV calls on the Nigerian government to reverse the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act and decriminalize innate sexual orientation.

MPV supports the work of the US through Secretary Kerry's efforts to provide asylum opportunities for LGBT people via a UN process.

MPV affirms the equal worth of all human beings, regardless of race, sex, gender, gender identification, ethnicity, nationality, creed, sexual orientation, or ability. We are committed to work toward global societies that ensure social, political, educational, and economic opportunities for all.

MPV recognizes the importance of saving LGBT lives in Nigeria, but cautions against flippantly categorizing African governments as the only governments oppressing LGBT people, as LGBT oppression is also found in Russia, India, Pakistan, and other non-African countries.  The former President of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, has called upon African leaders to respect the human rights of sexual minorities and move away from discriminating against them, which has provided some positive response.

MPV is committed to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and we support full equality and inclusion of all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, in society and in the Muslim community.

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Muslims for Progressive Values – USA – France – Chile –Australia – Canada.

MPV-USA: http://mpvusa.org/
MPV-Canada: http://www.mpvottawa.com/
MPV-France: http://www.musulmans-progressistes-france.org/
MPV-Chile: http://mpvchile.wordpress.com/
MPV-Australia: https://www.facebook.com/mpvaustralia

Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) is a 501 (c) (3) founded in 2007. MPV asserts that Islam is inherently progressive, inclusive and egalitarian which is an understanding that informs the ten principles by which the organization is guided. Since its inception, MPV has expanded to include chapter and affiliates in the United States in Los Angeles, Washington DC, Atlanta, Columbus (OH), New York,and Chicago, in Canada in Ottawa and Toronto, and in Paris, Chile and Australia.