Voorzitter Europees Parlement veroordeelt moord Oegandese homoactivist (en)
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek i, has sharply condemned the assassination of famed Ugandan gay-rights campaigner David Kato, and used the occasion of the killing to demand the country decriminalise homosexuality, a land where a man who loves another man may soon face the death penalty.
"David Kato was a man that fought for the rights of people to live freely regardless of their sexual orientation in Uganda," said Mr Buzek, a Polish conservative.
"I call for the perpetrators of this crime to be brought to justice. He was a remarkable human rights defender."
Mr Kato, a high-school teacher and outspoken campaigner for gay rights in the country, was beaten to death by a hammer on Wednesday after Ugandan newspaper put his face on the front page calling on readers to "Hang Them".
Mr Buzek noted that the EU chamber had adopted two resolutions condemning draft Ugandan legislation that would impose capital punishment for gays and lesbians previously convicted of homosexuality, who are HIV positive or who engage in same-sex acts with minors. The bill would also introduce measures attempting to extradite expatriate gay and lesbian individuals back to the country for punishment. NGOs, companies and media outlets that support gay rights would also face penalties.
"I repeat the European Parliament's call on the Ugandan authorities not to approve this bill and to review their laws so as to decriminalise homosexuality," the EU parliament chief said. "I also remind the Ugandan government of its obligations under international law and under the Cotonou Agreement, which calls for universal human rights to be respected."
Police have ascribed the murder of Mr Kato to a robbery, but friends and fellow activists believe the killing to be a hate crime.
In October, Rolling Stone, a Ugandan newspaper not connected with the American popular culture monthly, published a front-page story that featured photos and addresses of gays and lesbians, including the murdered activist. The paper also claimed that gays were out to recruit children from schools.
A handful of EU states have threatened to cut aid funding to the country as a result of the legislation, which was introduced after a group of American right-wing Christians travelled to the country in March 2009 to hold anti-gay rallies.
Socialists in the parliament also "strongly condemned" the murder of David Kato.
Labour MEP Michael Cashman i said: "David was a brave and courageous man who stood as a giant against the homophobes in government, parliament, in the church and in the media who preached the hatred and persecution of homosexuals."
The group called "in the strongest possible terms" on the EU's External Action Service and member state embassies in the country to do combat homophobia in Uganda.