Burundi’s President, Evariste Ndayishimiye, said same-sex couples should be publicly stoned.
He said this while giving a speech on Friday, criticizing Western nations that use financial aid as leverage to encourage the recognition of gay rights in other countries.
Homosexuality has been deemed illegal in Burundi, a predominantly conservative Christian nation in East Africa, since 2009.
The penal code imposes prison sentences of up to two years for consensual same-sex activities. President Ndayishimiye, a Catholic, strongly condemned the union of same-sex couples, labeling it an “abominable practice.”
“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,” Ndayishimiye said while responding to a question at a public event broadcast by Burundian media in the east of the country.
He expressed disapproval of Western nations pressuring smaller countries to embrace same-sex marriage by linking it to aid, stating, “Let them retain their assistance, let them keep it.”
Furthermore, he asserted that Burundians residing abroad who have engaged in same-sex relationships, colloquially referred to as “choosing the devil,” should refrain from returning to the country.
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In numerous East African nations, homosexuality is prohibited, reflecting a historical pattern of repression and societal stigmatization against the LGBTQ+ community, often exacerbated by conservative Islamic and Christian influences.
Uganda, in particular, enacted one of the world’s most severe anti-homosexuality laws in May, triggering widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and Western nations.
In response to Uganda’s actions, Washington has announced its intention to exclude the country from a crucial trade agreement, and it has implemented visa restrictions on certain officials. Simultaneously, the World Bank has suspended new loans to Uganda.
The controversial legislation is currently under legal scrutiny at Uganda’s constitutional court.
In March of this year, Burundi intensified its crackdown on same-sex relationships by charging 24 individuals with “homosexual practices.”
This enforcement followed a public call by President Ndayishimiye urging citizens to actively oppose homosexuality and ostracize individuals based on their sexual orientation.
Ndayishimiye assumed power in June 2020, following the death of President Pierre Nkurunziza.
Despite receiving international recognition for gradually ending Burundi’s isolation from the global community after his predecessor’s tumultuous rule, Ndayishimiye has struggled to address the country’s dismal human rights record. Burundi, with a population of 12 million, remains one of the world’s poorest nations.
AFP