Nigerian, Ugandan diplomats snubbed from Canada Day celebrations
Toronto Star - 37 minutes ago
By: Alex Boutilier Staff Reporter, Published on Mon Jun 30 2014
Diplomats from Nigeria and Uganda have been dropped from the guest
list for the Department of Foreign Affairs' Canada Day festivities in
Ottawa.
OTTAWA-Diplomats from Nigeria and Uganda have been dropped from the
guest list for the Department of Foreign Affairs' Canada Day
festivities in Ottawa, the Star has learned.
The reasons for the diplomatic snub are not clear, and Foreign Affairs
Minister John Baird's office refused to comment. But Baird has been an
outspoken critic of
anti-gay laws recently passed by the two African nations.
In January, Nigeria passed the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act,
which punishes same-sex marriage with a maximum of 14 years in prison
and 10 years for belonging to a gay organization.
The following month, Uganda passed an even harsher law that provides
for a life sentence for "aggravated homosexuality" -- repeated sexual
relations between adults. First-time offenders could face as much as
14 years in prison.
"Canada has repeatedly raised our concerns with the government of
Uganda, and we have done so again," Baird said in a statement in
February. "Our engagement on human rights issues will only become more
persistent. We will continue to support efforts to decriminalize
homosexuality and combat violence against people on the basis of their
sexual orientation."
Both the Nigerian and Ugandan high commissioners were invited to the
festivities in 2013.
The Canadian Press reported Monday that Canada barred a number of
states from attending Canada Day festivities last year. In 2013, that
list included officials from North Korea, Fiji, Belarus, Iran, Syria,
Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Baird's office refused to release the 2014 list of barred diplomats.
"It is not our practice to provide lists of country representatives
invited or not invited to functions at our missions abroad," a
statement from the office, emailed to the Star Monday, read.
It's not clear if officials from Nigeria and Uganda will be banned
from celebrations abroad, or just in Ottawa.
http://www.google.ca/gwt/x?gl=CA&hl=en-CA&u=http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/06/30/nigerian_ugandan_diplomats_snubbed_from_canada_day_celebrations.html&source=s&q=Nigerian,+Ugandan+diplomats+snubbed+from+Canada+Day+celebrations+Toronto+Star
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