Re: First arrests under new Russian anti-gay law

Their country... their laws.

On Apr 7, 9:25 am, Tommy News <tommysn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> First arrests under new Russian anti-gay law
> Apr 6, 2012, 9:30 GMT
>
> 3Moscow - Two Russian men were arrested on Friday for illegally
> engaging in 'pro-gay propaganda,' in the first-ever enforcement a
> controversial new law that bans making statements supporting
> homosexuality in public.
>
> Police in St Petersburg arrested the pair as they were standing in a
> central district of Russia's second-largest city and holding up
> placards reading 'Homosexuality is normal.'
>
> 'This St Petersburg law banning favourable comments about
> homosexuality is a shame. This law is absolutely discriminatory and it
> takes away the right to freedom of expression and assembly from
> citizens of non-traditional orientations,' said Tatyana Lokshina,
> spokeswoman for the NGO Human Rights Watch.
>
> The pair's protest in front of St Petersburg's Palace of Youth
> Creativity, a government-run centre for art displays and musical
> performances, was intended to force a judicial challenge of the law,
> Lokoshina said, according to an Interfax news agency report.
>
> A new city code that went into effect on February 29 stipulates fines
> for persons who 'propagandize non-traditional lifestyles' in a public
> space.
>
> The two men face fines equivalent to 170 dollars each for violating
> the city ordinance, and possible additional penalties for breaking
> national law banning demonstrations in a public area without official
> sanction, the Interfax report said.
>
> Supporters of the St Petersburg city law banning public statements in
> favour of alternative lifestyles have said it is necessary in order to
> promote traditional Russian values. Human rights groups have said the
> law violates personal freedoms guaranteed in the Russian constitution.
>
> Russia's national legislature the Duma currently is considering a bill
> which, if passed, would make public support of homosexuality or
> lesbianism illegal across the country.
>
> More:http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/news/article_1696395.php/Fi...
>
> --
> Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
> Have a great day,
> Tommy
>
> --
> Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
> Have a great day,
> Tommy

--
Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum

* Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/
* It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
* Read the latest breaking news, and more.