Monday, November 1, 2010

Uganda: Court issues an interim order restraining the "Rolling Stone"

Yesterday gay activists sued the Rolling Stone tabloid in Uganda. .....







Here's the press release:

The Ugandan Rolling Stone tabloid published an article entitled “100 Pictures of Uganda’s


Top Homos Leak” calling for “the hanging of homos” in Uganda in its issue of Vol.1, No.


5, 2 - 9 October, 2010. This article shows pictures of some of the 100 alleged homosexuals


and other Human Rights Activists, alongside their names and a description of their


professional jobs and private life, including where they live or work.


The publication has affected the day to day lives of the individuals mentioned and the


Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender [LGBTI] community as a whole. Therefore


Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender human rights activists have taken the tabloid to


the High court.


Through this litigation the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community is seeking


to bring to an end the violations. They will also educate and raise awareness that everyone


in this society deserves and should be protected by the government and the law irrespective


of race, age, color, tribe, creed, sexual orientation and gender identity.


We call on;


1. The MEDIA to immediately desist from using press freedom to incite violence


against any person.


2. The Government of Uganda to intervene immediately and take all appropriate


measures to put an end to this blatant incitement to public violence against a


particular group of citizens.


3. The Government of Uganda should recognize and seize the opportunity to ensure


the protection of human rights, which is entrusted to its authority, and uphold the


Ugandan Constitution as well as the international and regional Human Rights


Instruments to which Uganda is a signatory.


For further information please contact:


Frank Mugisha - fmugisha@sexualminoritiesuganda.org
 
Today an interim restraining order was issued.  Today activists spoke truth to power and the courts supported them. Pray that the order will stand the stand up long term. Pray human rights will prevail.

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