A Gambian lawmaker told the AP on
Monday that the National Assembly has approved a harsh anti-gay bill.
Minority leader Samba Jallow told the
news agency that the bill prescribes life imprisonment for
“aggravated homosexuality.”
The bill contains “identical”
language to a controversial measure approved last year by Ugandan
lawmakers, the AP reported. Uganda's law was struck down by a court
in July on technical grounds. However, lawmakers have vowed to
approve a new law in its place.
The laws also ban the “promotion of
homosexuality.”
“It only adds to the discrimination
and to the climate of fear that gays and lesbians … are living
under,” said Amnesty International's Francois Patuel.
Gay sex is already illegal in the West
African nation, where violators face prison sentences of up to 14
years.
The bill now awaits President Yahya
Jammeh's signature. Jammeh
in February described gays as “vermin.”