The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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On Friday, Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye delivered a vehement anti-gay diatribe, proposing that same-sex couples should face public stoning. He also criticized Western nations that pressure other countries to embrace gay rights, warning of aid withdrawal.
Burundi, a conservative Christian nation in East Africa, criminalized homosexuality in 2009, imposing prison sentences of up to two years for consensual same-sex acts. Ndayishimiye, a Catholic, condemned the union of same-sex couples as an “abominable practice.”
Expressing his views at a public event in the eastern part of the country, broadcasted by Burundian media, Ndayishimiye suggested, “Personally, I think if we see these kinds of individuals in Burundi, we should put them in a stadium and stone them. And it would not be a sin for those who do.”
He further criticized Western countries linking aid to the acceptance of gay marriage, stating, “Let them keep their help, let them keep it.” Ndayishimiye also asserted that Burundians abroad engaging in homosexuality should not return.
In East Africa, many countries, influenced by conservative religious beliefs, have criminalized homosexuality, contributing to a history of repression and stigmatization against the LGBTQ+ community. Uganda, for instance, recently enacted stringent anti-gay laws, prompting condemnation from rights groups and Western powers.
In response to Uganda’s laws, the United States announced plans to remove the country from a crucial trade deal and imposed visa restrictions on certain officials, while the World Bank suspended new loans. Uganda’s anti-gay legislation is currently facing legal challenges in the constitutional court.
Earlier this year, Burundi intensified its crackdown on same-sex relationships, charging 24 individuals with “homosexual practices.” This followed Ndayishimiye’s call for citizens to root out homosexuality and treat gay people as “pariahs.”
Although Ndayishimiye assumed power in June 2020, receiving international praise for ending Burundi’s isolation under his predecessor, he has not improved the nation’s dismal human rights record. Burundi, with a population of 12 million, remains one of the world’s poorest countries.
