The court's ruling in June, which was praised by international organisations and activists, meant Botswana joined a handful of African countries that have legalised same sex relationships. Attorney General Abraham Keetshabe said in a statement released late on Friday that the high court was mistaken in its conclusion in overturning the colonial-era law. In June, a panel of three judges ruled that sections of the penal code that ban gay sex are unconstitutional as they violate privacy, liberty, and dignity; are discriminatory; and serve no public interest. Botswana’s ruling came after Kenya’s high court upheld its law banning gay sex, keeping same sex relations punishable by 14 years in jail, drawing strong criticism from the United Nations and rights activists. South Africa is the only African nation to have legalised gay marriage.

Source: bd News24 July 06, 2019 08:37 UTC