Gambia President Yahya Jammeh on
Saturday criticized calls for his country to respect gay rights.
Speaking at the opening of Parliament
in Banjul, Jammeh rejected calls from President Barack Obama and
British Prime Minister David Cameron for countries receiving foreign
aid to respect human rights, including those of gay men and lesbians.
“If you are to give us aid for men
and men or for women and women to marry, leave it. We don't need
your aid because as far as I am the president of the Gambia, you will
never see that happen in this country,” the Freedom
Newspaper quoted Jammeh as saying.
“We do not need your aid money. You
can keep it. We will not encourage ungodly vices alien to our
culture. As long as I'm the president of this country, there will be
no gay rights. Homosexuality is forbidden in this country.”
In 2008, Jammeh vowed to behead people
who engage in gay sex. He later retracted the threat.
“Sometimes you hear of a lot of noise
about the laws of this country or my pronouncements,” said Jammeh.
“Let me make it very clear that … you will not bribe me to do
what is evil and ungodly.”
Zimbabwe
President Robert Mugabe offered a similar reaction, telling Cameron
“to hell with you.”