Nigeria

Over the last decade, the state of LGBTIQ human rights in Nigeria has deteriorated. Same-sex relations are illegal throughout the country. Furthermore, twelve northern regions have adopted a form of Sharia Law that makes same-sex relations punishable by death and criminalizes gender expression which does not correspond with gender norms associated with the sex assigned at birth. In 2014, the "Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act” was signed into law. The Act criminalizes same-sex marriage and displays of affection between people of the same sex, imposing a 10-year prison sentence on anyone who “registers, operates, or participates in gay clubs, societies, and organizations.” It also prescribes a penalty for people who know or “abet” same-sex relationships, thus criminalizing the friends and families of LGBTIQ people. Following this law, LGBTIQ Nigerians have been subjected to arbitrary arrests, targeting and extortion by police and government officials. Harassment and violence at the hands of private individuals are also high. Government officials regularly make public comments denigrating LGBTIQ individuals, contributing to Nigeria's pervasively anti-LGBTIQ sentiment. Nigeria's UN representatives were among the most vocal opponents to establishing the mandate of Independent Experts on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Speaking on behalf of the Organizations of Islamic Cooperation, Nigeria asserted that sexual orientation and gender identity issues are Western concepts and would constitute an imposition on a large number of states.