"Beyond even prohibiting same sex marriage, this law is dangerously restricts freedom of assembly... and expression for all Nigerians,"he said in a statement.
The bill,which contains penalties of up to 14years in prison and bans gay marriage,same-sex "amorous relationships" and membership of gay rights groups,was passed by the national assembly last May but Jonathan had delayed signing it into law.
A presidential spokesmen told Reuters he had now done so. As in much of sub-Saharan Africa,anti-gay sentiment and persecution of homosexuals is rife in Nigeria, so the new legislation is likely to be popular. Jonathan is expected to seek re-election in 2015 but is under pressure after several dozen lawmakers and a handful of regional governors defected to the opposition in the past two months. under existing Nigeria federal law,sodomy is punishable by jail, but this bill legislates for a much broader crackdown on homosexual people,who live a largely underground existence.
The US secretary of state,John Kerry,said washington was deeply concerned by the new measures.
"it is inconsistent with Nigeria's international legal obligations and undermines... democratic reforms and human rights protections,"he said.
While European countries, most recently france,have moved to offer same-sex couples the legal rights enjoyed by heterosexuals,many Africa countries are seeking to tighten laws agaist homosexuality.
Britain and some other western countries have threatened to cut aid to governments that pass laws persecuting homosexuals,a threat that has helped hold back or scupper such legislation in aid-dependent nations such as Uganda and Malawi. But they have little leverage over Nigeria,whose budget is funded by its oil output of 2m barrels a day.
"Persons who enter into a same-sex marriage contact or civil union commit an offense and are each liable on conviction to a term of 14years in prison,"the bill says.
"Any person who registers,operates or participates in gay clubs,societies and organizations or directly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offense and shall each be liable on conviction to a term of 10years in prison.
His spokesman, Reuben Abati, said: "This is a law that is in line with the people 's cultural and religious inclination. So it is a law that is a reflection of the beliefs and orientation of Nigeria people... Nigerians are pleased with it."
Dorothy Aken 'Ova, executive director of the country's international center for Reproductive Health and Sexual Right, said that the legislation,hailed the" Jail the Gays"law,had led to mass arrests.Police in Bauchi state, she claimed ,had a list of 168 purportedly gay men, of whom 38 had been arrested.
NIGERIA GAY PROTESTING.....
Nigeria (gay) people being hunted down
Meanwhile Dorothy Aken 'ova, also said some hidding gay group in Lagos state,oyo state,kogi state,and Edo state.named as( network of gay group) (happy people humanitarian for gay group) (Prussia gay group) (king of Prussia gay group) and (queen alliance gay group) .It was learn that one of their strong member were killed by the Anti-gay and some cultist in the campus in university of Ibadan on 15 June 2010. known as( Late mr gbenga ladele) a gay from king of Prussia gay group,also a student of same university of ibadan. and their president Mr Adegoke, and their National coordinator Mr ibikunle muritala,also members like mr musa haruna,mr Adekoya tunde and Mr ibikunle nurudeen. were arrested during their brutal rally by the Nigerian police force. but they were later released.
On 1st of October 2012,the gay group called King of prussia gay group were re-arrested and handcuffed to the Lagos state commissional of police led by superior officer of police Mr Richard Ogbonna,at their meeting point 137,Ajah lekki express way Ajah Lagos. for mobilizing homosexual to protest in Lagos because of the National Assembly vote of the Anti-gay law bill that criminalized any same-sex marriage and act of homosexual-ism in Nigeria.
They were transferred to Kogi state police command, but unfortunately they were escaped from the police lockup cell,when some Northern Fulani's tribe cattle rearer,broke in the police station, because one of their member was arrested by the police command in kogi state and kept in same lock up cell with mr Adegoke( president),mr ibikunle muritata(national coordinator),mr haruna musa,mr adekoya tunde and mr ibikunle nurudeen.and were all declared wanted on 15 November 2012. by the Nigeria police.
BAUCHI STATE SHARIA COMMISSION ON GAY AND HOMOSEXUALISM
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On 6th February 2014 last updated at 07:23ET, by Will Ross BBC News......Nine men on trial for homosexual behaviors could face death by stoning in Northern Nigeria gay men are being hunted down in front of Bauchi state sharia commission,a white walled two story building,men in dark green uniforms are awaiting orders from their boss.
The man in charge of the Islamic police or Hisbah says the Hunt began when the Hausa leadership newspaper reported last year that homosexual in Bauchi had formed an association.the article included a list of names.the Hisbah tried to track down, without sucess so they looked for help.the Imams and Pastors were alerted, so that they should preach in churches and mosques about this illegal things,said Jubrin Danladi,Hassan a retired civil servant who now commands the Hisbah,which also enforce bans on the sale of Alcoholics,Prostitutions and Gambling, people should put an eye on their children and know those who are moving with them, he said people should try to know where these evil things are taking place and if they find it, please tell the Authority we will go and arrest them and make them stop this kind of things he said. adding that he was proud to be serving Allah with his work.
The laws,she cautioned,will endanger medical programmes combating HIV-AIDS in the gay community. Nigeria has the second-largest HIV epidemic globally with an estimated 3.4 million people living with HIV.
Responding to the spread of anti-gay legislation, Kerry said: "The united state is deeply concerned by Nigerian's enactment of the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act.Beyond even prohibiting same-sex marriage,this law dangerously res-tricks freedom of assembly, association and expression for all Nigerians.
"[The law] is inconsistent with Nigeria's international legal obligations and undermines the democratic reforms and human rights protections enshrined in its 1999 constitution,"he added.
"People everywhere deserve to live in freedom and equality. No one should face violence or discrimination for who they are or who they love".
The London -based Human Dignity Trust, which supports legal actions around the world aimed at overturning anti-gay legislation,criticized both the Nigerian and Ugandan acts.
Jonathan Cooper, the trust's chief executive, has described the Ugandan legislation as" a bleak day for human rights.
The bill undermines Uganda's human right protection,breaches its international treaty obligations and violates Uganda's own constitution". One of the men whose legal challenges the trust supported,Roger Jean-Claude Mbede, 34, die this week after being removed from hospital by his family.He had been jailed in Cameroon for sending a text message to another man saying : " I'm very much in love with you". Mbede, whose case ws highlighted by the Guardian in 2012,was subsequently declared a prisoner of concience by Amnesty International.
His lawyer, Alice Nkom, said:"[Mbede] family said he was a curse for them and that we should let him die."
Under existing Nigerian federal law, sodomy is punishable by jail, but this bill legislates for a much broader crackdown on homosexual people, who live a largely underground existence.
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