Two Men Flee Muslim Law Enforcers
Behind
the Mask, October 18, 2004 http://www.mask.org.za/SECTIONS/AfricaPerCountry/ABC/burundi/burundi_1.htm
2 men in Burundi have had to flee following arrests by
Muslim law enforcers who discovered the pair together in the Muslim quarter of
Bujumbura.
Activists in Burundi have been frantically trying to
secure funds and safe passage for 2 men arrested under Muslim law in Burundi
recently, when they were discovered having sex.
One of the men was imprisoned and sentenced to death by
the Islamic court but was set free when activists intervened and assisted in
getting him released from custody. The man has now fled to neighbouring
Rwanda. The second man was kept in hiding in a Bujumbura home until he could
be smuggled to the countryside where he awaits safe passage out of the
country.
Activists in Burundi are putting a positive slant on the
incident. “We need to appeal to government to change the laws regarding
homosexuality—this is a good example of how there is a problem and why we
need change.”
The idea that Islamic law can be enforced regardless of
national law is of great concern to activists. However, they were not without
words of warning to the men also. “It was very risky and not at all wise of
them to behave as they did.”
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