i think the issue is not that persecution of gays will prompt phony asylum claims, since those will always happen anyway as long as there is a strong economic incentive. it is that it is not the fault of pressing for gay rights that is responsible, or is really the relevant factor. aside from the legitimate cases of persecuted people who would be at risk, the cases driven by economic pressures lie at the heart of the matter, and what needs to be addressed is the cause for that. obama has now begun the long-needed campaign for greater economic justice; that needs to be seen as a world-wide concern as well, and i believe that activist campaigns have to focus on the enormous disparities created by the current economic conditions generated by global neoliberal capitalism.
ken
--Oga Pablo:
Although, some of us support the rights of gays, it does not mean that one should turn a blind eye to the fact that heteroesexual people will exploit the legislation to seek political asylum and such will further demonize Nigeria. In the 1970s and 1980, thousands of Ghanaians sought political asylum using the dictatorship of JJ Rawlings, claiming rather ridiculously that soldiers had attacked them, etc. The fact of the matter is that most of the asylum seekers had never seen JJ or encountered Ghanaian soldiers anywhere.
Kwabena
From:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Pablo [pidahosa@yorku.ca]
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 9:40 AM
To:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Cc: USAAfrica Dialogue; NaijaPolitics e-Group; OmoOdua
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: Nigeria: Gays Seek Asylum Status at EmbassiesBolaji, it appears to me an uncharacteristic cheap, unfair entrance and exit on your part. Rather than address the issue at hand, which is why gays would have to seek asylum, you focus upon instead upon the likelihood of people exploiting the seeking of asylum. Whatever the nature of the powers of enforcement, this vindictive, politically-inspired law outs people to seek asylum.And there, you don't have it.Pablo
Sent from my grandfather's typewriter----My People:Oh Nigerians, ever ready to exploit a situation, good or bad!Now how do you test for "gay-ness?" Of course, bring your partner - or your "wife" or "wife-to-be" - who too will promptly ask for asylum: a two-fer-one situation!But "still yet": how do you test the two for gayness?Your answer may be as good as mine.....clearly must be a private affair, in a set-apart embassy room.USA ....here we come! UK...aa mbo na!And there you have it.Bolaji AlukoMy only entrance - and exit - into this interesting Nigerian Gay/Single-Sex-Marriage Palava:Nigeria: Gays Seek Asylum Status at Embassies
By Henry Ifeanyi, 24 January 2014Lagos — Gay individuals have reportedly inundated some foreign embassies in Lagos to seek asylum.
The increased applications for asylum at the embassies follow the recent law passed by the country banning gay marriages and activities.
The law stipulates 14-year jail term for any person found to be nurturing gay relations or promoting gay activities.
Some countries including the United States and Britain have condemned the law threatening to impose sanctions on Nigerian.
The majority of Nigerians have however expressed support for the new law and urged government to ignore sanction threats by foreign government.
Law enforcement officials have already began the implementation of the law with the arrest and arraignment of five suspected gays in the northern part of the country.
Investigations by our correspondent in Lagos revealed that the number of gays who have applied for visa in some embassies in the state had increased in the last week.
It was established that some of the embassies that had experienced an increase in applications for asylum include the US, UK, Canada and Germany.
US Embassy officials refused to confirm the development but a source within the embassy said there had been an upsurge of visa application in the last week.
Because of the sensitivity of the issue, the source said most applicants only declare their gay status during the visa interview.
At the UK embassy, an official who wished not to be quoted because he is not permit to speak on the issue, also confirmed that there has indeed been an increase in number of visa applicants in the last one week.
He said he could not confirm if most of the applicants were gay as the embassy did not permit such disclosure.
The source said the embassy authorities would likely give genuine considerations to visa applicants who were gay and might be in obvious danger. – CAJ News
http://allafrica.com/stories/201401240372.html?aa_source=slideout
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