Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 12 June 2019

Botswana decriminalizes gay sex in landmark Africa case

By CARA ANNA Botswana’s High Court said
Associated Press in its ruling that penalizing
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — people for who they are is
Botswana became the lat- disrespectful and discrimi-
est country to decriminal- natory, and that the law
ize gay sex on Tuesday, a should not deal with private
landmark case for Africa, acts between consenting
as the High Court rejected adults. The ruling cited the
laws punishing it with up to recent decriminalization in
seven years in prison. India and elsewhere. It also
Jubilant activists in the pointed out that all three
packed courtroom arms of Botswana’s govern-
cheered the unanimous ment have expressed the
decision in the southern Af- need to protect the rights
rican nation that is seen as of the gay community.
one of the continent’s most Before the ruling, LEGABIBO
stable and democratic. shared a comment attrib-
The ruling came less than uted to President Mokg-
a month after Kenya’s High weetsi Masisi: “There are
Court had upheld similar also many people of same-
sections of its own penal sex relationships in this
code in another closely country who have been
watched case. violated and have also suf-
“Botswana is the ninth Activists celebrate outside the High Court in Gaborone, Botswana, Tuesday June 11, 2019. fered in silence for fear of
country in the past five Associated Press being discriminated. Just
years to have decriminal- year, the southern African in the case, has said such man said. He said the state like other citizens, they de-
ized consensual same-sex nation of Angola decrimi- laws “infringe on basic hu- might appeal “to appease serve to have their rights
relationships,” U.N. spokes- nalized same-sex activity man dignity.” the homophobes” and has protected.”
man Stephane Dujarric and banned discrimination People in the courtroom 30 working days to do so. The judges cited the presi-
said. based on sexual orienta- were ecstatic, leaping up, The ruling led to rejoicing dent’s comment in their
“Consensual same-sex tion. clapping and ululating, LE- from rights groups that had ruling. Botswana in recent
sexual relationships remain Those arguing against the GABIBO legal policy direc- expressed frustration with years has taken other steps
criminalized in at least 67 laws say they leave people tor Caine Youngman told the Kenyan decision last toward protecting LGBT
countries and territories in the LGBT community vul- The Associated Press. When month, including ones in rights. The High Court in
worldwide,” he told report- nerable to discrimination the judges said the right to countries such as Nigeria, 2017 ruled that the govern-
ers at U.N. headquarters in and abuse while making privacy includes the right Uganda and Ghana where ment should issue a trans-
New York. it difficult to access basic to choose a partner, “it hit gay sex remains illegal. Am- gender man documenta-
More than two dozen coun- health and other services. home,” he said. nesty International called tion reflecting his identity.
tries in sub-Saharan Africa The Botswana-based non- “I’m a gay man. I’ve been on other African nations to And in 2016 an appeals
have laws criminalizing gay governmental group LE- out for many years. Now follow Botswana’s example court ruled that LEGABIBO
sex, often holdovers from GABIBO, which supported I can live with my partner in “an exciting new era of could register as a nonprof-
colonial times. Earlier this the anonymous petitioner without worry,” Young- acceptance.” it. q

Pakistan’s former president questioned in anti-graft probe

By MUNIR AHMED were politically motivated, in court again on June 21,
Associated Press which the government de- when the anti-graft body is
ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Paki- nies. Several prominent pol- expected to press or drop
stani court handed over iticians and businessmen charges.
the country’s former presi- have been swept up on Also on Tuesday, the anti-
dent to a national anti- corruption charges since graft body arrested Hamza
graft body on Tuesday Prime Minister Imran Khan Shahbaz, a politician who
for questions regarding a took office last year, after is the son of the opposition
multi-million dollar money winning a narrow majority leader Shahbaz Sharif, after
laundering case. in parliamentary elections. the rejection of his bail in a
Asif Ali Zardari will be held Khan campaigned heav- corruption case. He is also
for ten days pending in- ily on promises to root out the nephew of the former
vestigation on corruption graft among the country’s Prime Minister Nawaz Shar-
charges. elite. if, who is currently serving
The court order came a Zardari, widower of assas- a jail term over corruption
day after Zardari was ar- Supporters of Pakistan’s People’s party burn a picture of Javed sinated ex-Prime Minister charges.
rested after the rejection of Iqbal, Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau to protest Benazir Bhutto, was presi- Sharif, who served as the
his and his sister’s bail appli- the arrest of their leader Asif Ali Zardari, in Peshawar, Pakistan, dent for five years, until country’s premier three
cations. However, authori- Tuesday, June 11, 2019. 2013. times, was ousted from of-
ties did not arrest Faryal Associated Press Tuesday’s court hearing fice by the Supreme Court
Talpur; no explanation was and his sister had been They have denied any was held amid tight secu- in 2017 because of the cor-
given. accused by the National wrongdoing. rity, as his party’s supporters ruption charges against
Both the former president, Accountability Bureau of Zardari’s opposition Paki- held small rallies across the him. Sharif, along with other
currently a member in the holding dozens of bogus stan People’s Party claims country to condemn the family members, has cases
lower house of Parliament, bank accounts. the charges against him arrest. Zardari will appear still pending against him.q