2007年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Activist Slams Anti-Gay Bill
时间:2019-01-16 作者:英语课 分类:2007年VOA标准英语(三月)
Abuja
09 March 2007
A leading gay activist 1 in Nigeria has denounced current government efforts to ban homosexuality in the country. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa reports the Nigerian government is facing substantial international pressure over the plan.
A controversial bill that would ban homosexuality in Nigeria could become law this month.
Gay activist Bisi Alimi, 27, looks at a copy of Gay Times magazine in front of his house in Lagos, 11 Oct 2006
Among other things, the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition 2 Act 2007 assigns a five-year prison term not only for practicing gays, but for those who support them. The legislation has passed two readings in both houses of the National Assembly, and will become law if it passes a third reading and is approved by the president.
The Nigerian parliament will go into recess 3 later this month as the country prepares for elections in April.
Activists 4 fear politicians will push through the bill to score political points, despite serious concerns about the implications for human rights.
Homophobic attacks, intimidation 5 and threats have reportedly increased in Nigeria as a result of the introduction of the legislation in early 2006.
Davis Mac-Iyalla is the Director of Changing Attitude Nigeria, a gay group that claims 2,000 members. An Anglican, Mac-Iyalla attracted media attention in 2005 when he announced his group. He has since fled Nigeria and on the phone from his temporary home in Lome, the capital of neighboring Togo, he told VOA his fears and anguish 6 over current attempts to ban homosexuality in Nigeria.
"As long as that bill, same sex bill is on debate….if it is passed, many of us will go on exile. And I don't know why any government will want to send its people, harmless people, vulnerable people, on exile," he said. "So, I think everything should be done. That is why we are seeing it as a debate, but the government and the church are seeing it as a war and that is why we are worried. I am not comfortable in Nigeria. I'm into hiding."
The Nigerian anti-homosexuality bill has received widespread support in a country where homophobic feelings are very strong, including endorsements 7 by powerful religious groups and personalities 8.
But several international organizations, among them experts on human rights issues, have condemned 9 the proposal, arguing it infringes 10 on the principle of freedom of assembly and association.
Church leaders in United States have also denounced the legislation, saying it is all about persecution 11 and hatred 12 and not about Christian 13 values.
Iyalla says only strong international pressure can stop the passage of the bill.
"What I want them [the international community] to do is to put pressure on the Nigerian government to withdraw that bill. And to advise the church leaders to seek advice. The church and government are in to rush, to wipe us out," he said. "The international community has to put more pressure on them."
Gay sex is already illegal in Nigeria and most Nigerians say they resent what they characterize as the imposition of Western ideas of rights.
- He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
- He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。
- The prohibition against drunken driving will save many lives.禁止酒后开车将会减少许多死亡事故。
- They voted in favour of the prohibition of smoking in public areas.他们投票赞成禁止在公共场所吸烟。
- The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
- Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。
- His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
- Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
- The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。
- She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时,她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
- The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。
- He must make much money on those tennis shoe endorsements he does. 他替那些网球鞋珍重广告,就赚了不少钱。 来自互联网
- But celebrity endorsements remain an important promotional tool for marketers. 尽管如此,邀明星助阵仍是营销人员重要的推广手段之一。 来自互联网
- There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
- Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。
- Congressmen may be reluctant to vote for legislation that infringes the traditional prerogatives of the states. 美国国会议员可能不情愿投票拥护侵犯各州传统特权的立法。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
- I can't say whether CP21 infringes it or not. 我就不能说CP21是否侵犯了SPOT的专利。 来自企业管理英语口语(第二版)(2)
- He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
- Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。
- He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
- The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。