Leave children out of LGBTQ issues – Nakuta
Scholar takes aim at parents for ‘manipulating’ children
The home affairs ministry's refusal to process immigration permits without the AG's OK is a case of playing 'political games', Nakuta said.
Legal scholar John Nakuta says children should be protected at all costs - especially during the current LGBTQI-High Court saga.
In the matter, Friedel Dausab is challenging the compatibility of the common law offence of sodomy and related offences with his rights under Namibian Constitution.
In an interview with Namibian Sun, Nakuta made reference to images – from a recent Pride march – circulating on social media, which show a young boy holding a poster that reads “abolish sodomy law”.
According to him, it is unacceptable to have children fight these battles.
"Of course, those who are pro-LGBTQI have the right to freedom of movement and to demonstrate without weapons, without violence, as the constitution says.
“But surely, it is not right that we would have children fighting our battles. That is pure manipulation," he said.
He added that he shares sentiments with Namibians who say "we can't groom children into what they probably don't understand".
Fighting hate
Last weekend, members of the LGBTQI+ community participated in a Pride march through Windhoek.
The event aimed to “address the surge of discriminatory acts faced by the community following a recent landmark Supreme Court ruling”.
Made last month, the ruling compels government to recognise same-sex marriages solemnised in other countries in terms of Namibia’s immigration laws – making it only the second nation on the continent to do so after South Africa.
The decision, however, gave birth to a storm of outrage, specifically by churches and religious figures.
Equal Namibia founder Omar van Reenen said the march aimed to celebrate Pride Month after the violence the LGBTQI+ community faced recently.
"Homophobia is tearing the country apart. This is not the born-free Namibia we fought for.
“When I see the picture of the child and parents who came with their children, I see parents who want to raise a society where children know not to hate and discriminate,” he said.
Political games
Earlier this month, home affairs minister Albert Kawana said the ministry will not process any residence-related permits for foreign same-sex spouses married to Namibians, as ordered by the Supreme Court, until he hears from the attorney-general.
To this, Nakuta responded that Kawana is "playing politics".
"He knows as a lawyer, the attorney-general does not need to interpret that. There's no interpretation or conundrum.
“The word 'spouse' - as used in the Immigration Control Act - must be interpreted to mean those who are in same-sex marriages solemnised outside the country," he said.
In the matter, Friedel Dausab is challenging the compatibility of the common law offence of sodomy and related offences with his rights under Namibian Constitution.
In an interview with Namibian Sun, Nakuta made reference to images – from a recent Pride march – circulating on social media, which show a young boy holding a poster that reads “abolish sodomy law”.
According to him, it is unacceptable to have children fight these battles.
"Of course, those who are pro-LGBTQI have the right to freedom of movement and to demonstrate without weapons, without violence, as the constitution says.
“But surely, it is not right that we would have children fighting our battles. That is pure manipulation," he said.
He added that he shares sentiments with Namibians who say "we can't groom children into what they probably don't understand".
Fighting hate
Last weekend, members of the LGBTQI+ community participated in a Pride march through Windhoek.
The event aimed to “address the surge of discriminatory acts faced by the community following a recent landmark Supreme Court ruling”.
Made last month, the ruling compels government to recognise same-sex marriages solemnised in other countries in terms of Namibia’s immigration laws – making it only the second nation on the continent to do so after South Africa.
The decision, however, gave birth to a storm of outrage, specifically by churches and religious figures.
Equal Namibia founder Omar van Reenen said the march aimed to celebrate Pride Month after the violence the LGBTQI+ community faced recently.
"Homophobia is tearing the country apart. This is not the born-free Namibia we fought for.
“When I see the picture of the child and parents who came with their children, I see parents who want to raise a society where children know not to hate and discriminate,” he said.
Political games
Earlier this month, home affairs minister Albert Kawana said the ministry will not process any residence-related permits for foreign same-sex spouses married to Namibians, as ordered by the Supreme Court, until he hears from the attorney-general.
To this, Nakuta responded that Kawana is "playing politics".
"He knows as a lawyer, the attorney-general does not need to interpret that. There's no interpretation or conundrum.
“The word 'spouse' - as used in the Immigration Control Act - must be interpreted to mean those who are in same-sex marriages solemnised outside the country," he said.
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