Libya dominated the headlines last year, but the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population of the country received very little attention internationally.

I interviewed Khaleed, a 31-year-old LGBT activist about his life in the North African country. In this first part he talks about his life before the overthrow of Muammar el-Gadaffi. Later this week he’ll be speaking about what has changed and what hasn’t since the revolution.

“There are absolutely no groups, organisations or even individuals in Libya that speak publicly about gay rights, the subject itself is a social and religious taboo. But this doesn’t mean that LGBT people do not exist, on the contrary some people are known and recognised as gay within their communities,” he tells me.

“Libyan law has a penal code against ‘men having sex with each other’ which could lead to a 5-years imprisonment [Section 407.4 of the Libyan Constitution]. However, I never heard of publicly documented cases of men being charged under this penal code, and, to my disappointment no efforts were made by any human rights or LGBT rights organisations either to investigate potential cases, nor discuss LGBT rights in Libya.”

In fact the only documented case to my knowledge was one I reported on 25.12.2010 when two men were arrested for “indecent acts,” with minimal information and despite many efforts no further information regarding this case was obtained.

Most LGBT people use the internet in Libya to socialise, exchange ideas and arrange to meet – especially through the gay social networking site Manjam, its one of the few ways available for them to explore their identities and sexuality. Yet even here, in virtual cyberspace, they are not safe.

“My personal experience as a gay man in Libya hasn’t been easy. I was investigated by policemen for having an online profile on manjam. Officers from the internal security agency during Qaddafi’s regime came to my home and outed me to my family which caused huge problems. I took me over two long years before I managed to work things out with them.”

For Khaleed the whole episode was terrible and frightening: “I was interrogated by the criminal investigation bureau for thirty long minutes, but which seemed like eternity. I was then ‘ordered’ to stop meeting people through manjam because ‘there are people there who have contacts with foreign intelligence networks’.”

“After the investigation I removed my previous profile but stayed in touch with all the contacts I have made before. But to my horror I found out that the government’s security agency was monitoring my calls and online activities. Furthermore, they hacked into my personal email and showed all my correspondence to my mother, which made me refrain from accessing any LGBT and political online sites for a while.”

For all the pious talking by politicians in the West about liberating Libya, Khaleed wants to underline the following: “I just want to say something to readers in Europe and North America:” he stresses; “The technology to monitor the internet and entrap people like me fighting for Human Rights unfortunately comes from governments and companies in the West.”

Khaleed is not entirely sure why his internet accounts were hacked and investigated but he has his suspicion: “It seems to me as a police response to previous commentary I made about human rights in Libya, and because of my participation with several liberal and secular discussions on websites that were considered to by anti-regime. The reason I feel this way is because I have heard of no similar investigation been or being made against some of my friends or acquaintances.”

In part two, I speak with Khaleed about the revolution as well as his hopes and fears for the new Libya.

David Bahati, the original sponsor of the legislation that would see gays imprisoned for life and executed for repeat offences, has tabled the draft law again, reports say.

Clauses call for the death penalty for “aggravated” or continued homosexuality, while those who fail to report incidences to police would be jailed.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill is designed to “protect the traditional family” and also requires Uganda to not ratify any international treaty that would run contrary to its provisions.

It provides for life imprisonment for people who have gay sex, “touch another person with the intention” of having gay sex or have an illegal “gay marriage”.

The bill further requires the death sentence for anyone convicted of homosexuality who is living with HIV or who has been convicted of homosexuality before.

Attempted homosexuality carries a seven year prison sentence, as does aiding or abetting acts of homosexuality.

A fine of up to 500,000 shillings (£135) or a prison sentence up to three years are included for people who are aware of any gay offence but do not report it within 24 hours.

The bill received worldwide condemnation from countries, gay rights campaigners and human rights groups.

Last month, the former president of South Africa, Thabo MBeki, criticised the anti-gay bill, saying it “doesn’t make sense” to intervene in people’s private lives.

Mr Mbeki was taking questions at the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) in Kampala when he was asked about the draft legislation and specifically what he would say to its sponsor.

Mbeki, who served as deputy President and President of South Africa following the abolition of apartheid, said: “I would say to the MP; sexual preferences are a private matter. I don’t think it is a matter of the state to intervene.”

“I mean what would you want? It doesn’t make sense at all. That is what I would say to the MP. What two consenting adults do is really not the matter of law.”

US President Barack Obama described it as “odious”.

Minister Samir Dilou said ‘freedom of expression has its limits’ and agreed homosexuality was a ‘perversion’ which needed to be ‘treated medically’.

The attack on Gayday magazine, whose editor has faced religiously inspired hatred and death threats, comes after a month of scandals which has brought gay issues to the fore in Tunisia.

But there has been a long build-up to the current situation.

The post-revolutionary electoral campaigns used homosexuality as a political weapon between the various groups vying for power in the new Tunisia.

Supporters of the now ruling Ennahda party used ‘homosexual panic’ tactics to allege that liberal and secular parties would legalise gay rights and marriage if they were to win, they mockingly likened these other parties’ rallies to gay pride parades.

It put the spotlight on Tunisia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community who were used to being overlooked rather than the focus of public debate.

Sex scandals and panic

Despite the uncertain atmosphere, Gayday magazine, which claims to be the first online gay title in Tunisia, launched in March 2011 and initially received little attention other than from LGBT Tunisians.

But two scandals hit prominent members of the interim government lead by the Ennahda party three weeks ago. The first was the release of the brother of the Tunisian Minister of Justice, after an allegation that he raped a young boy. The second, occurring just a few days later was a video posted on the internet by a left wing activist allegedly featuring the current Home Office minister, Ali Laarayedh in an erotic homosexual act with a fellow cellmate during the 1990s.

This gave the opposition more opportunity to use gay hatred to lambast and discredit the ruling Ennahda party. Online homophobic reactions rapidly spread over the Tunisian cyber-space.

Fadi, editor of Gayday magazine told PinkNews.co.uk: ‘It feels like suddenly, the subject of homosexuality is no longer a taboo, judging by the magnitude of homophobic posts across the Tunisian cyberspace. Of course there is some positive side just by raising the issue, but what concerned us was the excessive amount of homophobia as a political weapon.’

Liberty March denies LGBT Rights

A ‘Walk for liberties, all liberties’ attracted nearly 10,000 Tunisians on 28 January. It came after a series of human rights violations, mainly against freedom of expression. Participants chanted ‘We won’t sell our freedom!’

But most of the Tunisian gay, bi and trans people didn’t feel their presence or rights were welcome.

‘I didn’t go simply because I see freedom is portrayed by Islamists as a contradiction to their principles. They interpret it as a license for alcohol, nudity and sex which they oppose firmly,’ said Lilia, a lesbian activist.

And Marwan, a 24-year-old gay engineering student added: ‘There was no point for me to join the march. Gay rights don’t figure on their list, they don’t even consider us humans!’

Still some remained defiant, like Bilel, a 35-year-old gay teacher who told PinkNews.co.uk: ‘I went to the march because I think it’s the right time to demand freedom for all.’

The few who made it were shocked to be greeted by homophobic signs and slogans used by their fellow left wing activists.

One read: ‘0.0% is better than a successful faggot’ [ie it is better to have no support than to be a ‘gay’ like the interior minister]..

Fadi said: ‘It was really disconcerting and alarming to witness those homophobic signs and slogans during a march for human rights. It made us feel that our rights are not included.’

Gay Day Magazine ‘cursed’

Just two days after the march Gayday magazine’s cover stirred a second wave of homophobic attacks. A couple of leading and influential opposition Facebook pages posted it with provocative headlines. For example, the ‘Tunisie’ page for instance, which has almost 900,000 fans, received 423 comments it posted the cover along with the title: ‘A magazine for fags is issued in Tunisia’. This has been shared 116 times so far.

Most of the comments on the page were homophobic. They included: ‘God’s curse on them’, ‘That’s what pro-freedom activist call for, perversion and adultery in the name of freedom of expression’ and ‘The democracy we have is excessive and ridiculous. We are in a Muslim country and a magazine like this is intolerable!’

Then Samir El-Wafi, a journalist and celebrity TV presenter known for his tabloid, ranting interview techniques joined the homophobic bandwagon, posted the cover of the magazine on his Facebook page (with over 75,500 fans) followed by the following description: ‘In the chaos of freedom of expression and freeing the media, a first Tunisian magazine for fags was issued!

‘In the name of freedom and in a conservative country whose people are facing a struggle between modernity and tradition; a magazine for fags dares to come out and challenge all the circumstances, rules, morals, ethics and customs.

‘Do we need a further strife because a very small minority expresses its perversion… not caring about the feelings and the sacred beliefs of a majority?

‘Today a magazine, tomorrow a pride march, then gay marriage… and after that who knows?’

The post got 381 likes, 124 comments and 165 shares.

The next day Fadi, received hateful messages and death threats.

One from someone identifying themselves as ‘Emna’ said: ‘You are a zero. We don’t give a fuck about you. You ought to be out assisting in building the country. This is so immoral, calling to protect dirty people. God will never forgive you. This is very haraam [forbidden], we are Muslims and we can never be proud of your gay shit. You need to go and see psychiatrists and not start a magazine. Shame on you.’

‘Sabrine’ messaged him to say: ‘How could you be so impolite to do this, you belong to a Muslim society. Don’t you know that these things upset God? You’re so sinful and this one of the signs to the end of time. Fucking bitches.’

And Aymen posted on the Gayday magazine Facebook page: ‘You’re dead; don’t come to Tunisia you faggot. Even hell is disgusted to have you!’

There were, however, a few positive comments. One read: ‘I saw the link on Facebook and I was very happy to see the coming out of this magazine. I salute you for challenging and bypassing all the taboos and homophobic prejudices. It’s really a shame to see such a narrow mentality. Anyway, congratulations and good luck.’

Human Rights minister excludes gays

Samir El-Wafi continued his homophobic attack when he hosted Minister of Human Rights and Transitional Justice, Samir Dilou, on his TV show on 4 February.

Dilou told El-Wafi he’s against having such a magazine in Tunisia: ‘This country has its own history, heritage, religion and customs and we need to deal with everything on such a basis.’

El-Wafi asked: ‘We can’t deny that this phenomenon of sexual perversion exists but shall we deny these people from expression mediums?’

And Dilou responded: ‘Yes, freedom of expression has limits.

‘They live as citizens but they must respect the red lines set up by our religion, heritage and civilization.’

When asked if the magazine should be banned, the minister said: ‘I have no knowledge if this magazine have applied for a permit or not but I’m against it even though I’m a minister of human rights.’

They concluded laughing that sexual orientation is not a human right and ‘sexual perversion needs to be treated medically’.

Fadi said: ‘The situation for LGBT people remains hostile in the shadow of all this exaggerated expression on homophobia. A friend of mine and I received couple of online death threats that says we deserve to be hanged or burnt in public.

‘It’s never a good time for anyone to come out at this time but I’m glad the subject is slowly breaking through the taboo shell. A lot of work is ahead of us to repeal the 230 Article [which makes gay sex illegal] and establish equality laws for LGBT individuals in Tunisia. Gayday magazine is only a start that I hope it serves as a medium that portrays us a humans, dispels the myths around us and advocates for our rights.’

See the El-Wafi and Dilou interview here (in Arabic):

Openly gay Zoliswa Nkonyana, 19, was stabbed and stoned in the homophobic attack in Khayelitsha on 4 February 2006.

A total of nine men had been arrested, but Lubabalo Ntlabathi, Sicelo Mase, Luyanda Londzi and Mbulelo Damba were found guilty of the murder in October 2011.

The case was reportedly postponed more than 50 times. Sentencing was initially expected before Christmas.

The murdered woman’s stepfather Mr Mandini told South Africa’s Sowetan newspaper: “They did not accept responsibility for what they did and we are happy that when we asked for a lengthy jail term, the magistrate agreed to that.”

The Social Justice Coalition issued a statement last night on the conviction, highlighting what it called “consistent failures” of the police and justice system in the six-year case.

“Over the past six years, a number of Khayelitsha-based civil society organisations including the Social Justice Coalition, Treatment Action Campaign, Free Gender, Triangle Project and Sonke Gender Justice have attended Nkonyana’s court dates, monitored progress, spoken to prosecutors and tried to assist her family in finding justice.

“It is unlikely that this case would have concluded without the constant support and pressure from these organisations. We have held countless protests outside the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court and raised awareness in the media regarding this case.”

The Coalition concluded: “Today we remember Zoliswa and thousands of other people who have been needlessly murdered – many of whom have then had justice denied. We wish Nkonyana’s family well and hope they will be able to move forward from this trauma.

“However, we cannot forget the larger context. Unless changes are made and the police and criminal justice system improve, families will continue to suffer as the cases of their loved ones drag painfully through the system.”

Mr Ban told delegates at the event held in Addis Ababa: “One form of discrimination ignored or even sanctioned by many states for too long has been discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

“It prompted governments to treat people as second-class citizens or even criminals.”

Homosexuality is illegal in many African countries and there is widespread discrimination in those that do not outlaw gay sex. Only South Africa recognises LGBT rights in its constitution and allows gay marriage.

“Confronting these discriminations is a challenge, but we must not give up on the ideas of the universal declaration of human rights,” Mr Ban told the summit.

Last year, the British government said it would divert aid away from African governments that discriminate against LGBT citizens prompting Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe to describe the arrangement as ‘satanic’. He said: “It becomes worse and satanic when you get a prime minister like Cameron saying countries that want British aid should accept homosexuality. To come with that diabolic suggestion to our people is a stupid offer.”

African Union chairman Tedoro Obiang Nguema, speaking before Mr Ban said: “Africa should not be questioned with regards to democracy, human rights, governance and transparency in public administration,”

In 2010, Mr Ban made a very public call for the end to discrimination against LGBT people saying: “As men and women of conscience, we reject discrimination in general, and in particular discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. When individuals are attacked, abused or imprisoned because of their sexual orientation, we must speak out.

“We cannot stand by. We cannot be silent.

“This is all the more true in cases of violence. These are not merely assaults on individuals. They are attacks on all of us. They devastate families. They pit one group against another, dividing larger society. And when the perpetrators of violence escape without penalty, they make a mockery of the universal values we hold dear.

“We have a collective responsibility to stand against discrimination, to defend our fellow human beings and our fundamental principles.”

While the fall of Ben Ali has afforded a greater space to free expression, not all Tunisian LGBT people are convinced things are headed in the right direction.

Stoufa, a 54 year-old gay hairdresser and designer, said that there was a time in Tunisia when people had enough exposure to gays that they were not taken aback by it. However, he says that attitudes towards gays have changed considerably over the years.

“People these days speak more openly about homosexuality, and claim to be tolerant. However, in reality they are not,” he stated.

According to Stoufa, who was raised in downtown Tunis, his community was small and everyone knew each other.

“In such a small community, sexual orientation was not a secret. However, there was no shame associated with it. People just respected it then – more than they do now,” said Stoufa.

Nevertheless, there have been recent signs that a public dialogue is beginning that was not possible before.

Tunisia’s Gay Day Magazine, launched in March 2011 as the first online magazine for the country’s LGBT community. A blog, Facebook page and Twitter account have been established for the magazine in an effort to interact with LGBT Tunisians through social networking and media.

Fedi, a 23 year old unemployed college graduate, is the online Editor of Gay Day Magazine’s website.

“We aim at advocating for human rights, and against stereotypes. We wish to serve as a space that facilitates communication among the Tunisian LGBT community and provides a healthy and interactive environment to confront issues that face our community,” stated Fedi.

Social networks and online support groups represent a refuge for the LGBT community – particularly to teenagers questioning their sexuality.

“Issues such as homophobia, the impossibility of being openly gay, and the taboo of addressing these problems has made the internet the first conduit for gay Tunisians to express themselves,” said Fedi.

Fedi, however, does not harbour any illusions about the fact that many problems remain for Tunisian homosexuals. Many of those problems are social; homosexuality is often unjustifiably associated with paedophilia, sex addiction, or sin.

“Recently, homosexuality was used negatively in political campaigns as a legitimate tool to discredit opponents’ views publicly. This is worrying as it just strengthens public prejudice and stereotypes and scares further the Tunisian LGBT community”, stated Fedi.

But discrimination against gays doesn’t stop with social biases – it is inscribed into the law as well.

Abd Essatar Zaafrani, a lawyer, stated that there is not a direct article in the constitution specifically prohibiting homosexuality. However, there are articles in the penal code related to general ethics that are against it. Article 230 criminalizes same-sex acts for both men and women with imprisonment for up to three years. However, these legal stipulations have never been applied.

“Perceptions regarding human rights depend on the culture and traditions of each society. There have always been reservations concerning this issue in Muslim and Arab countries. [The protection of ] minority rights has always been a question of the balance between law and social values. It is a continuous debate,” he added.

In post-revolutionary Tunisia, young Tunisian homosexuals have mixed views about how the social changes accompanying the fall of the Ben Ali regime may change their situation in the future.

Both Aymen, a 30 year old web designer, and Sabri, a 23 year-old student, are not openly gay. However, they stated that they have always been the target of stereotypes, judgment, and mistreatment.

Sabri and Aymen believe that the LGBT community is not being given adequate recognition.

“Gay rights should be a concern of the government. In a society that expresses discrimination and hate toward us, instead of respect we need legal protection,” declared Aymen.

The two men expressed worries about the future of the LGBT community in Tunisia.

Sarah, a 21 year old student, has also chosen to remain discrete as a lesbian. She expressed her determination to leave the country and settle abroad, where pressure on gays and lesbians might be less intense.

“There are way too many problems that LGBT Tunisian face, including a generational gap in understanding between parents and their children, and even social hypocrisy among ourselves,” Sarah stated.

In spite of her feelings about the intolerant aspects of Tunisian society, she does not think that now is the time to push for change in the country, saying that she believes that Tunisia has social priorities that should take precedence over gay rights.

Fedi as well, despite his strong conviction about the need for legally guaranteed rights for the homosexual community, thinks that it is still too soon to officially demand them from the government.

“Such a move would only destabilise the situation in which we are living, and cause more violence and more insecurity.”

This article was adapted from a piece on Tunisia-Live by Farah Samti and Jaber Belkhiria.

The royal family has dismissed allegations that the king said gay relationships were “rotten” as a mistranslation by South Africa’s Times newspaper.

While the South African Human Rights Commission then said it would investigate King Goodwill Zwelithini, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, the province which is home to the Zulu nation, backed the royal family’s version of events.

Now, Contralesa, the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, says the gays who asked for the king to apologise were only seeking fame.

In a statement appearing to refer to the Gay & Lesbian Network in Pietermaritzburg, they say: “We condemn the gays and lesbian group [for questioning] His Majesty iMbube to apologise to them.

“This shows how disrespectful they are and worse to the point of that they would approach the king on twisted facts. They are just seeking fame out [of] our king.”

Contralesa is made up of traditional African leaders including chiefs and headmen and does not have any official political affiliations.

According to the nation’s Times newspaper, the king told a crowd: “Traditionally, there were no people who engaged in same sex-relationships. There was nothing like that and if you do it, you must know that you are rotten.

“I don’t care how you feel about it. If you do it, you must know that it is wrong and you are rotten. Same sex is not acceptable.”

The royal family suggested it may have been a “reckless” translation and said they felt “shock and dismay” at the newspaper’s report of the speech.

The speech came at a memorial for the 1879 Battle of Isandlwana, during which the Zulu army defeated the British.

Zweli Mkhize, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, reportedly played a DVD of the speech to the provincial legislature, saying it contains no slurs against gays in the original language.

In honour of his 60th birthday, I would like to share with you what I believe are two of Peter’s finest moments, in his own words: his hijacking of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Easter Sermon in 1998 and his first attempt at a citizen’s arrest of Robert Mugabe. I was not able to include these in my original piece, but both are brilliant accounts of real-life human rights activism.

Peter on his Easter protest, 12 April 1998:

“George Carey was notoriously homophobic,” Peter tells me. “Not only did he disparage gay people in relationships, he actively campaigned against equality, encouraging MPs and members of the House of Lords to vote against equality. For eight years we’d tried to have a dialogue with him and he refused to meet us.”

“So, we decided that if he wouldn’t come and meet us we’d go and meet him. And where better than on Easter Sunday in his own cathedral when the whole thing would be televised?”

“We went down to Canterbury in a two-car convoy dressed in our Sunday best. We went into the cathedral early and sat separately from one another just a bit back from the pulpit in a side aisle so we weren’t in full view. Our placards were folded up and stuffed in our jackets. We’d decided we wouldn’t interrupt any of the sacred parts of the service and instead we waited for the sermon, when Carey usually expressed his views on topical issues.”

“When he began his sermon one of our members, who was designated the lead, got up out of his pew and walked calmly towards the front. He noticed two churchwardens by the pulpit and had the foresight to see that they might be a problem so he did a distraction exercise. He feigned having an asthma attack and staggered off to the far side of the cathedral. The churchwardens rushed over to help him, which meant the rest of us could walk calmly but quickly into the pulpit.”

“When we got there Carey was in full flow. As I stood next to him he looked rather shocked, but then he just stood back and gave me the pulpit. So, I delivered a short alternative sermon, which didn’t attack or insult him or the Christian religion. I merely criticized his support for homophobic discrimination in a very calm and reasoned manner.”

Peter was arrested and eventually fined GBP 18.60 for breaking the 1860 Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act: proof that Magistrates aren’t entirely devoid of humour.

“It’s my only conviction,” says Peter. Not bad, when you consider he’s been arrested over 300 times. “The positive outcome was that from that moment onwards, George Carey hardly ever again spoke out publicly against gay equality. He also finally met with the Lesbian and Gay and Christian Movement for the first time.”

Peter on his attempt at a citizen’s arrest of Robert Mugabe in 1999:

“Human rights defenders in Zimbabwe approached me in the early 1990s with a request that I help expose the abuses happening under Mugabe’s regime. I hit on the idea of using the power of citizen’s arrest to try and bring Mugabe to justice. The UN Convention Against Torture was the strongest legal basis for seeking to arrest Mugabe and put him on trial. The Convention had been incorporated into British law. Under it, any public official who commits, authorises, acquiesces or condones an act of torture can be put on trial. So the legal basis for his arrest was very strong.”

“In October 1999 I got a late-night anonymous phone call advising me that Mugabe was staying at the St James’ Court hotel in London. I gambled on the fact that it was a serious tip-off and the next day contacted Amnesty International to gather the required evidence against him.”

“Three of us from Outrage turned up outside the hotel on a freezing Saturday morning together with a freelance journalist, photographer and cameraman. We tried to look inconspicuous by reading newspapers and not standing as a group, but after two hours the concierge noticed us. Then a little while later from the side entrance, five or six African-looking guys appeared, pointing in our direction.”

“I had an idea. I walked across the street to talk to them: “Hi guys, I’m from the News of The World. This is my team. Listen, we know Elton John is staying in this hotel with his new boyfriend. We’ve got to get photos for tomorrow’s paper. Can you tell me what room he’s in?” They looked at me as if I was bonkers. I said: “Look, I’ll give you fifty quid. No? I’ll give you seventy-five quid.” Then I turned to one of them and added: “I know you. You’re definitely Elton’s security team, I remember you from the Wembley concert two months ago. You were there, remember?””

“I kept this up for quite a while and in the end they were all laughing and walked off. Sure enough, ten minutes later, out came Mugabe in his limousine. I scratched the top of my head to signal he was in the car and my Outrage colleagues down the road ran out in front of the car to stop him. It screeched to a halt about six inches from their legs! I ran from behind and opened the car door. Amazingly, it was unlocked. I reached in and put my right hand on Mugabe’s arm and held up my left hand to show I didn’t have a weapon.”

“I told him: “President Mugabe, you are under arrest on charges of torture, torture is a crime under international law. I am now summoning the police.” You should have seen the look on his face. His eyes popped. His jaw dropped. He’s quite dark-skinned, but a visible ashen colour came across his face. I think he thought he was going to be killed. I thought to myself: ‘Well now you know how your victim’s feel, only we’re not going to kill you or take you to a torture chamber, we’re going to take you a court of law and put you on trial.’”

The Zulu people are mainly geographically located within the relatively pro-gay African state.

The royal family dismissed the comment that gay relationships were “rotten” as a mistranslation by South Africa’s Times newspaper.

A statement issued by Prince Mbonisi Zulu described “shock and dismay” at the South African Times’ report of the king’s speech, which he says was intended to promote compassion in society.

The royal household said it could be described as “reckless translation”.

A statement issued yesterday said King Goodwill Zwelithini actually told the audience: “During the good olden days our forefathers dedicated their lives for the good of the nation. Men would go for months in the battles to fight the enemies without their wives but did not harass each other sexually and there were no cases of rape of women.

“Nowadays you even have men who rape other men. This is a clear sign of moral decay. We condemned those involved – no matter who you are.”

The South African Times newspaper is sticking to its translation, the BBC reports.

Human Rights Commission spokesman Vincent Moaga said: “If it is indeed accurate that His Majesty, the Zulu king, made the utterances as reported, they constitute hate speech [...] and are inflammatory.”

Mr Mbeki was taking questions at the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) in Kampala when he was asked about the draft legislation and specifically what he would say to its sponsor, the Daily Monitor reports.

The bill, introduced by MP David Bahati in 2009, was designed to strengthen Uganda’s already-harsh laws against homosexuality but was indefinitely dropped by lawmakers.

In response to the question, Mbeki, who served as deputy President and President of South Africa following the abolition of apartheid, said: “I would say to the MP; sexual preferences are a private matter. I don’t think it is a matter of the state to intervene.”

“I mean what would you want? It doesn’t make sense at all. That is what I would say to the MP. What two consenting adults do is really not the matter of law.”

Bahati said in response: “His excellency needs to read the bill and understand the spirit in which it was brought and the context in which we are talking about.”

Clauses called for the death penalty for “aggravated” homosexuality, the offence of continuing to commit gay acts after one conviction. Those who fail to report gay incidents to police would be jailed.

The bill received worldwide condemnation from countries, gay rights campaigners and human rights groups.

It languished after failing to be debated in early 2011, but was set to be revisited in the current legislative session.

A statement issued by Prince Mbonisi Zulu described “shock and dismay” at the South African Times’ report of the king’s speech, which he says was intended to promote compassion in society.

The royal household said it could be described as “reckless translation”.

The king had been speaking at the 133rd anniversary of the 1879 Battle of Isandlwana, during which the Zulu army defeated the British.

King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu is said to have actually told the audience: “During the good olden days our forefathers dedicated their lives for the good of the nation. Men would go for months in the battles to fight the enemies without their wives but did not harass each other sexually and there were no cases of rape of women.

“Nowadays you even have men who rape other men. This is a clear sign of moral decay. We condemned those involved – no matter who you are.”

The prince’s statement continued: “At no stage did His Majesty condemned gay relations or same sex relations.

“His Majesty pointed out that his forefathers and King Cetshwayo was a celebrated genius who inspired his warriors to fight for a common objective.

“He said there was a rare breed of men who became an embodiment of a strong nation capable of withstanding any challenge.

“He went further stating that these men became the champions of good values. They sacrificed all what they had including their families to protect the nation.

The comments attributed to the king earlier today by African news sources were: “Traditionally, there were no people who engaged in same sex-relationships. There was nothing like that and if you do it, you must know that you are rotten.

“I don’t care how you feel about it. If you do it, you must know that it is wrong and you are rotten. Same sex is not acceptable.”

Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, King of the Zulu people, has reportedly said gay relationships are a new invention and are “rotten”.

The African king was had been addressing a crowd at Nquthu, KwaZulu-Natal, iafrica.com reports.

The speech came at a memorial for the 1879 Battle of Isandlwana, during which the Zulu army defeated the British.

The battle formed part of the Anglo-Zulu war, ultimately won by the British.

The king told the crowd: “Traditionally, there were no people who engaged in same sex-relationships. There was nothing like that and if you do it, you must know that you are rotten.

“I don’t care how you feel about it. If you do it, you must know that it is wrong and you are rotten. Same sex is not acceptable.”

Zulus make up about 20% of South Africa’s population, with 11 million living in the country. Christianity is the most popular religion.

Alex J Tyler, a member of the Unity Party, told the Truth FM Breakfast Show that any law enshrining equal rights for gays would be immoral, All Africa reports.

Tyler was recently re-elected for a second six-year term as the head of the House.

Liberia, in west Africa, has a population of about 3.8 million people but no gay rights organisations, according to reports.

Gay acts are illegal in the country. The U.S. State Department’s 2010 Human Rights Report said while “there were no reported instances of violence based on sexual orientation [...] the culture is strongly opposed to homosexuality”.

The comments from one of the continent’s smaller states echo other made in response to western efforts to promote the protection of gay people’s human rights.

In October 2011, the UK government announced it would be redirecting aid away from the central governments of states which fail to recognise gay rights, to reach those in need of financial help through other means.

In December, the Obama administration issued a landmark set of instructions to US departments instructing them to take gay rights into consideration in matters of foreign policy and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the UN in Geneva gay rights were “not a western invention, but a human reality”.

Responses to the governments’ announcements were mixed, with some rights campaigners fearing a backlash. Ghana’s president said they would “never support” legalised homosexuality.

A Ugandan official said the country was “tired of these lectures” and of being treated “like children” over its human rights obligations.

Speaker Tyler reportedly said Liberia would need to “rethink its relationship with the United States” if it wanted the state to protect gay rights.

Thaba Moyo oversees Bulowayo, the second largest city in the African state ruled by infamously homophobic President Robert Mugabe.

He confirmed to SW Radio Africa that the Sexual Rights Centre had given the bins as a gift to the city last month.

But he denied complaints had led to them being pulled from circulation, saying he was trying to find prominent places for the colourful receptacles.

Earlier, the Bulawayo United Residents Association’s Secretary General Samuel Moyo had said: “The issues of gays and lesbians is a very controversial national problem and council was, therefore, supposed to consult the people as accepting the donation could be misconstrued to mean the local authority subscribes to gay rights.”

Subsequent reports said the metal bins had been withdrawn following opposition, but Moyo denied that was the case.

He told SW Radio Africa: “We really welcome this donation and we are busy trying to arrange to put them in strategic places that receive a lot of traffic.”

He added: “We don’t regret receiving this donation and we won’t listen to anyone who disagrees with having them on the street.”

The station reports that the bins had been donated to coincide with Mugabe’s Zanu PF party conference in December.

The city is suffering what the outlet called a “serious waste removal crisis”, and “health hazard”.

Moyo said the city was “desperate” for any assistance in clearing rubbish from the streets.

The Sexual Rights Centre in Zimbabwe, who donated the bins, is “focused entirely on upholding international recommendations and standards on sexual rights”, one of which is the right to “freely express one’s sexuality”.

The 1994 genocide in Rwanda resulted in the systematic massacre of 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus in less than 100 days. First the militia killed the men and boys, then they moved on to the women.

The killing was done with maximum cruelty: gangs burned people alive, threw dead and living people together into pit latrines and mass graves, and compelled people to kill their own family members and relatives.

In some instances those who wanted to escape a slow and painful death by machetes had to pay the killers for the privilege of being shot with a gun. Imagine for a moment witnessing the horrific murder of your loved one: behind every death lies a mother, a father, a grandfather, an aunt, a brother, a cousin, a wife.

This appalling history is what has inspired me to run a marathon in February 2012 and raise money for Msaada, a charity which funds self-sustainable projects in Rwanda and targets those most affected by the 1994 genocide.

The UK-based charity assists the people of Rwanda in establishing self-help income-generating projects, and funds local agricultural projects that assist widows and orphans of the genocide to become self sufficient.

It comes as no surprise that in a country with such a disgraceful human rights record, homosexuality is frowned upon. Sexuality is considered a taboo subject, and although adult, consensual homosexual relations are not illegal, members of the LGBT community are still often blackmailed, harassed, physically assaulted and even jailed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

During the day, I work as a surveyor in East London and at night, I promote QueerlyOut, London’s most affordable weekly gay night in Escape Bar on Thursdays.

At times, it’s hard to juggle my day job, my business and my intense training schedule. The training is really demanding, but I just ran 14 miles last weekend and I’m set to run 15 on Saturday. It’s doable, but you’ve got to be dedicated, because running for 4 hours straight is no easy task, particularly when it’s dark, cold, wet and miserable outside.

That said, I love running to David Guetta and Rhianna hits on the weekend, and then listening to the same tunes that I personally request at the club on Thursdays… It keeps me on my toes!

I’m no stranger to challenges. Last year, I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and in 2008, I ran the London marathon. I raised £3,000 for charity from these two events and I’m hoping to raise another £1,500 for Msaada this year.

Donations are welcome. Please visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/rwandanmarathon to pledge your support and help me reach my target.

Lynette Karenyi, of the Movement for Democratic Change, was arrested after reportedly saying: “Zanu PF members have been attacking MDC president Tsvangirai alleging he is pro-homosexuals yet Robert Mugabe has practised homosexuality with Jonathan Moyo and Canaan Banana.”

The government-owned Herald newspaper reported that the statement was made at an MDC rally on 9 December at Nhedziwa football grounds in Chimanimani.

Jonathan Moyo, whom Karenyi reportedly named, is a former Information Minister for the African state, and Canaan Banana was the country’s first president in the 1980s.

Banana, who died in 2003, was convicted by a Zimbabwean court of eleven sodomy charges following allegations he had used his presidential powers to coerce men into sexual relations.

After the 1997 ruling, Banana served six months of a ten year suspended sentence in an open prison.

The debate on homosexuality has been reignited in Zimbabwe after the UK government’s announcement that it will redirect aid away from central governments which do not recognise gay rights, and the country’s rewriting of its constitution.

President Mugabe described the UK’s policy as “satanic”.

The Movement for Democratic Change, led by the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, currently shares power with Mugabe’s Zanu PF party.

Speaking to BBC News in October, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said gay rights were a “human right” that should be respected by Zimbabweans.

“It’s a very controversial subject in my part of the world. My attitude is that I hope the constitution will come out with freedom of sexual orientation, for as long as it does not interfere with anybody.”

Neither Karenyi and nor MDC has commented but the newspaper said she was “denying the allegations being levelled against her.” Karenyi was released from custody today after paying the $200 bail.

GhanaWeb reports that Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu issued the message to wish Christians well during their festivities.

He reportedly said the support and guidance of Allah was necessary to meet the standard of moral behaviour exhibited by the Prophet Mohammed and by Jesus Christ.

He added: “We must persistently seek ways and means to glorify Allah by doing the right thing and abstaining from the evils such as homosexuality and crime against one another.”

Sheikh Sharubutu also congratulated religious leaders on joint efforts to denounce the spread of homosexuality.

Roughly 15% of Ghana’s population is Muslim, compared with 70% who follow Christianity. Most Muslims are located in the country’s northern region.

Earlier this month, a Ghanaian official from the Education Ministry said they were “optimistic” they could eliminate homosexuality.

They said informing young people of the risks of a sexually active lifestyle, including the spread of HIV, would make being gay “a thing of the past”.

Ghana’s president, John Atta Mills told the BBC in November: “I, as president, will never initiate or support any attempt to legalise homosexuality in Ghana.”

Onyebuchi Chukwu, launching the 2010 Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance in Abuja, said that HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men has risen to 17.2%, up from 13.5% in 2007, Nigeria’s Daily Trust reports.

But the report says half of the surveyed men who have sex with men also said they have sexual contact with women.

Chukwu said the link between the groups of men who have sex with men and the female population “poses a challenge to the national response to HIV epidemic.”

“If care is not taken, this behaviour may erode the gains we have made in the national response to HIV/AIDS.”

The survey studied some 14,987 people classified in high-risk groups—including female sex workers, men who have sex with men, police and armed forces personnel, transport workers and injecting drug users.

It found the prevalence of HIV among female sex-workers and the armed forces had fallen over the three year period.

Earlier this month, 60,000 people signed a petition calling on the Nigerian president not to increase the penalties for homosexuality, which is illegal in the African country.

Campaigners said the bill, which has been passed by the Senate, further criminalises any public relationship between two people of the same gender by classifying it as a “same-sex marriage”, for which it introduces a punishment of 14 years’ imprisonment.

Lillian Kirenyi is a member of the Movement for Democratic Change, led by the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, which currently shares power with Mugabe’s Zanu PF party.

She reportedly said: “Zanu PF members been attacking MDC president Tsvangirai alleging he is pro-homosexuals yet Robert Mugabe has practiced homosexuality with Jonathan Moyo and Canaan Banana.”

Jonathan Moyo is a former Information Minister for the African state, and Canaan Banana was the country’s first president in the 1980s.

Banana, who died in 2003, was convicted by a Zimbabwean court of eleven sodomy charges following allegations he had used his presidential powers to coerce men into sexual relations.

After the 1997 ruling, Banana served six months of a ten year suspended sentence in an open prison.

The debate on homosexuality has been reignited in Zimbabwe after the UK government’s announcement that it will redirect aid away from central governments which do not recognise gay rights, and the country’s rewriting of its constitution.

President Mugabe described the UK’s policy as “satanic”.

But, speaking to BBC News in October, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said gay rights were a “human right” that should be respected by Zimbabweans.

“It’s a very controversial subject in my part of the world. My attitude is that I hope the constitution will come out with freedom of sexual orientation, for as long as it does not interfere with anybody.”

Last year, two Zimbabwean gay rights activists were arrested on charges of possessing pornographic materials in their offices and insulting Mugabe.

Paul Krampah, a Public Relations Officer, said his department’s HIV/AIDS Secretariat had been training teachers to educate students on the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The Mail says calls had been made to better equip students with knowledge about the health risks involved in a sexually active lifestyle.

Mr Krampah’s statement appears to imply that by outlining the risks of sexual activity, the programme will stop young people being gay.

He said: “We are very optimistic that things will change and the incidence of homosexuality in the country will be a thing of the past.”

LGBT Asylum News points out that the Deputy Director General of the country’s Education Service said in an interview this year that homosexuality “started with single-sex schools”.

He added: “It has become prevalent and so more people have become aware of it. This is just one of the many problems we have in our educational system.”

This summer, a minister in Ghana reportedly ordered the arrest of all gays and lesbians in the country’s Western Region.

Paul Evans Aidoo also called on landlords and tenants to inform on those they believe to be gay.

According to Ghanaian news reports, he said: “All efforts are being made to get rid of these people in the society.”

In November, the country’s president, John Atta Mills, said he would “never support” the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the country, following the UK Government’s announcement on the redirection of aid.