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'Cross-dressers' in Nigeria court | 'Cross-dressers' in Nigeria court |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The trial of 18 men accused of dressing up as women has started in a Sharia court in northern Nigeria. | The trial of 18 men accused of dressing up as women has started in a Sharia court in northern Nigeria. |
The men were arrested last year in a hotel room in the city of Bauchi. | The men were arrested last year in a hotel room in the city of Bauchi. |
Prosecutors read out a letter from New York based Human Rights Watch calling for the court to respect the men's right to "free association". | |
The men were originally accused of sodomy, which could lead to the death penalty under Sharia, but the charges were reduced. | The men were originally accused of sodomy, which could lead to the death penalty under Sharia, but the charges were reduced. |
Prosecutor Yusuf Adamu said HRW was "grossly misinformed" about the case and invited a representative of the organisation to attend the trial. | Prosecutor Yusuf Adamu said HRW was "grossly misinformed" about the case and invited a representative of the organisation to attend the trial. |
Under Sharia law a man must dress like a man and woman must dress like a woman Prosecutor Yusuf Adamu The case was adjourned until further notice by the judge. | Under Sharia law a man must dress like a man and woman must dress like a woman Prosecutor Yusuf Adamu The case was adjourned until further notice by the judge. |
The HRW letter was sent to the Federal Ministry of Justice in the capital, Abuja, who forwarded it on to the Bauchi state governor. | The HRW letter was sent to the Federal Ministry of Justice in the capital, Abuja, who forwarded it on to the Bauchi state governor. |
The letter said the Nigerian government had signed up to two conventions that enshrined the right to free association and freedom from harassment. | The letter said the Nigerian government had signed up to two conventions that enshrined the right to free association and freedom from harassment. |
"Human Rights Watch is grossly misinformed. This case is not about the right to free association," Mr Yusuf said. | "Human Rights Watch is grossly misinformed. This case is not about the right to free association," Mr Yusuf said. |
"Under Sharia law a man must dress like a man and woman must dress like a woman." | "Under Sharia law a man must dress like a man and woman must dress like a woman." |
The 18 are charged with indecent dressing and vagrancy. | The 18 are charged with indecent dressing and vagrancy. |
When the letter was read out the defendants looked relieved and happy, the BBC's Shehu Saulawa in Bauchi says. | When the letter was read out the defendants looked relieved and happy, the BBC's Shehu Saulawa in Bauchi says. |
But prosecutors have asked the court to write a response to HRW which could now delay the case. | But prosecutors have asked the court to write a response to HRW which could now delay the case. |
Ancient customs | |
In the west, this case has focused attention on Nigerian attitudes to homosexuality, which is illegal in the country. | |
But the BBC's Alex Last in Nigeria says perhaps it is more a reflection of current attitudes within northern Nigeria to old local customs. | |
For centuries in Nigeria's Islamic north - where ethnic Hausa culture dominates - there have been men called Dan Daudu - known for dressing as women and speaking in high pitched voices. | |
They are largely engaged in doing what was considered to be women's' work and could sometimes be hired as entertainers for parties. | |
Being a Dan Daudu, however, did not necessarily say much about a person's sexual preferences, our correspondent says. | |
But eight years ago Nigeria's northern states reintroduced some of the harsher penalties of Islamic law which had been removed under colonialism. | |
It was a response by politicians to a wave of popular discontent in the Islamic north against political corruption and social injustice. | |
This new tougher Sharia has largely failed to end such problems but there is now, perhaps, more of a willingness to target groups who appear to behave in ways that run counter to today's more puritan practice of Islam, our correspondent says. |
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