Human Rights Navi Pillay
Zimbabwe’s Justice Minister has told the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay that the country will continue to arrest gays.
Pillay – a vocal supporter of LGBT equality – has been visiting the country by invitation of the coalition government to assess human rights violations.
On Monday, after meeting the South African-born Pillay in Harare, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told reporters that in his discussions with the commissioner he had denied that there was any state-sponsored violence or torture in Zimbabwe.
He went on to add: “We made it clear that in our law homosexual activities are criminalised and that any person who commits homosexual activities will be arrested.”
Pillay has repeatedly called on states to ensure that LGBT people have equal rights under the law. “States must repeal discriminatory laws and ban discriminatory practices: punish violence and hatred, not love,” she said recently.
Gay sex, along with members of the same sex holding hands, hugging or kissing, is illegal in Zimbabwe with penalties of up to three years in jail.
Earlier this month, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development Ignatius Chombo called for traditional leaders to seize land owned by gays and lesbians.
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Navi Pillay is a wonderful person and I applaud her for trying but I am afraid with such deep seated hate it would take a miracle for things to change there. On the other hand if you dont try you will never change things. Kudos to you dear lady
Gay sex, along with members of the same sex holding hands, hugging or kissing, is
illegal in Zimbabwe with penalties of up to three years in jail. R u fuckin kidding me? What about hugging ur father or brother, uncle… This is simply insane!!! Navi Pillay has her work cut out for her, she needs a lot of prayer.