A coalition of international human rights groups argue that a bill designed to ban same-sex marriage in Nigeria will have far-reaching consequences.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission have urged politicians to reject the legislation. “On the surface, the Bill appears to limit itself to introducing criminal penalties for marriage ceremonies between persons of the same sex, with a penalty of three years’ imprisonment. However, the Bill’s provisions extend far wider,” they argue.

“The bill seeks to criminalise anyone who ‘witnesses’, ‘aids’ or ‘abets’ such a relationship. This means that the bill now criminalises identities, and not merely behaviours. It could also penalise any human rights defenders who would seek to stand up for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people in Nigeria, as well as their friends, families and colleagues.”

The bill is currently being discussed by lawmakers and should be voted upon within the next two weeks.

Senate President David Mark backs the proposals. “My faith as Christian abhors it,” he told the Senate on Monday. “It is incomprehensible to contemplate same sex marriage. I cannot understand it. I cannot be a party to it.”

The bill is also supported by Roman Catholic leaders in the West African country. “If we accept that two consenting adults can marry, we will soon […] have to […] argue whether mother and son, father and daughter are not free to marry,” said Michael Ekpenyong, secretary general of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.

LGBTI representatives in Nigeria fear the impact of the new law. “A society that stifles sexual and other identities discourages the recognition of human dignity. LGBTI rights are human rights,” said Otibho Obiowu of the Nigerian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual and Intersexual Assocation.

Rights activist Yemisi Ilesanmi argued that: “The passing of the bill would give official validation to the harassment of sexual minorities and many homophobic persons would use it as a licence to discriminate against lesbians and gays.”

Homosexuality is already punishable by imprisonment in the south of Nigeria and by death in several northern states.

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