Should Ugandan police arrest editors of a gay-busting newspaper?

2010-10-21T05:12:00.000-07:00

I thought I was mistaken to hear on CNN that a Ugandan newspaper published a list of gay people accompanied with a caption "hang them". Homosexuality clearly is a sensitive issue in Uganda, and the parliament there is preparing to vote on a bill that prescribes heavy punishment for homosexuals. But the publishing of a gay list is something of a surprise because it suggests that homophobia has permeated even the media, an institution that serves as as the last refuge for the oppressed in many parts of the world. Regardless whether the newspaper is part of the mainstream media or not, the government should take stern action against the editors for recklessly endangering the lives of many people who have committed no crime.

Homosexuality may not exactly be allowed in Uganda, but murder is still a crime there, and anyone who invites others to commit extra-judicial murder(s) (as the newspaper has clearly done) should be held accountable.

Contemporary legal issues

Should Ugandan police arrest editors of a gay-busting newspaper?