11 Muslim men to be tried in Nigeria for homosexuality

An Islamic court in Nigeria is trying 11 Muslim men, who face death by stoning for allegedly having same-sex relationships, a religious leader said. It is illegal to have gay sex in Nigeria both under Sharia -- or Islamic -- and secular law. President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, tightening laws against same-sex marriages, gay groups and shows of same-sex public affection earlier this month. Under Sharia law, those convicted of homosexuality can be stoned to death. A 12th person -- a Christian -- is being tried under secular law. "What this act is saying is that they [gay people] do not deserve to exist," Dorothy Aken-Ova, a human rights activist, told the BBC. Jibrin Danlami Hassan, a commissioner of Bauchi state's Sharia Commission, said the accused were arrested by residents of Bauchi. "They accept that they are doing that dirty game," he said of the accused.