Rights and Wrongs

The year is 2010, as we count it. July 2010- and a woman is scheduled to be stoned to death for adultery.

Because scripture says so. The Bible, or the Quaran says so. Many times it is almost impossible to reason with a person who believes in the fundamental interpretation of writings, whether they are laws, or scripture, etc. Fact is, no one will doubt that almost nobody lives with the same values that people used to thousands of years ago, when those scriptures were written.

International outcry -- and the pleas of a devoted son -- seem to have saved an Iranian woman from being stoned to death for adultery.

But while Sakineh Mohammedie Ashitani has been granted a reprieve, she is not the only woman sentenced to be stoned for adultery in Iran. There have been at least six sentences carried out since 2006, says Ann Harrison, an Iran expert at Amnesty International in London.

Adultery is the only crime that carries such a penalty in Iranian law, she said.

The accompanying analysis of why and when the Iranian authorities stone or do not carry out the stoning is kind of interesting- especially, if you kind of extrapolate how the apparent will of god is carried out, or flaunted, in the eyes of some.

Oh, just a reminder, in Nigeria's nothern states which have Sharia Law, the interpretation of that is that Homosexual sex carries a 'death by stoning' sentence.

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Remember the Supreme court ruling in Britain that stated that people could get asylum in Britain because of persecution in their home countries for their sexual orientation? One of the guys who sued was from Cameroon. And, the country came out defending themselves... saying that there were no prosecutions nor persecution of gay Cameroonian. I happen to know that there have been a number of prosecutions, and that, in one particularly nasty case, a few guys were held in prison and one died, dragged to court while see, not getting adequate medical help. Yes, it was in Cameroon, and if I am not mistaken, the year was 2005. Their crime was that they were accused of homosexuality, and they were deemed too dangerous to be given bail. So, one lost his life.

But, because of the embarassment of this case in Britain, Cameroon decides to point fingers at gay asylum seekers. They just want the good life in Europe, and the US.

Cameroon's government has rejected the claim by a gay asylum seeker in the UK that he would face persecution if he returned home.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court in London ruled in favour of the man, and a similar claimant from Iran.

Homosexuality in Cameroon is punishable by up to three years in jail.

However, Cameroon's communications minister told the BBC homosexuals were free to behave as they wished in private without any harassment.

"Homosexuality is forbidden by the law, there is not doubt. But what I can emphasise is the fact that no homosexual is persecuted in Cameroon"," Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma said.

He told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the claimant was simply using the law as an excuse to claim asylum in Britain.

"Do you think he is the only gay person in Cameroon?"

It is a matter of fact that this excuse is used quite often in our countries. Minister Buturo in Uganda taunted Victor Mukasa (and other gay Ugandans) to go to Europe and leave Uganda, because that is where our sexuality is okay. Just this year, dear Pastor Dr Martin 'eat da poo poo' Ssempa was regularly taunting us that Sweden was ready to accept us, because they were so unhappy at Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill. [Its funny, the taste of a man's Christianity might be how they treat enemies.... and Ssempa so regularly fails that test for homosexuals, I wonder why he deserves that label]

I would not really be surprised if Uganda came out and labelled gay Ugandan asylum seekers as only seeking for the good life. Of course we can be- but, it is a fact that fellow Africans are simply closed to the homophobia, hate speech and pain of 'living discreetly' in our closets.

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But, in lighter news... this cute South African DJ played Pastor Martin 'eat da poo poo' Ssempa's signature clip on a South African radio. Some listeners were not amused, and he was suspended. He has apologised...

Photo and excerpt from Mamba online.

Mukwevho, according a listener, was heard "laughing hysterically" at the tirade and asked a gay colleague, producer Junior Dikwa, if he engaged in the activities mentioned by the anti-gay pastor in the clip.

It emerged that DJ Mpho Maboi had earlier also played the clip on her show.

YFM will be facing the Broadcasting Complaints Commission today following a hate speech complaint from the listener. The two DJS have been suspended pending the outcome of disciplinary hearings.

On Tuesday, Mukwevho apologised for the furore on Twitter: "I'd like to profusely apologise to everyone I offended during my show last month when I made reference to homosexuality. Sincere apologies," said the DJ.

Dikwa told the newspaper that his sexuality was no secret but he refused to comment on the matter.

“Hi Dikwa, I know you are gay. Do you do the things that Dear Pastor Martin Ssempa of Uganda accuses homosexuals of doing? He mentions 'eating da poo poo', pushing the hand 'deepaaa' into da anus, and others.... do you, gug?”

“Errr, dear Pastor, sorry, but your words are kind of offensive. Would you mind if I asked whether you masturbate? Do you go down on your wife??? I mean, like in giving her oral sex....

Is if offensive of me to ask you that? Is it? See how going into people's bedrooms can be quite embarassing? I don't want to imagine you having sex... the mental image is quite, err, disgusting.”

Have a good day, everyone.

gug