Jewish aid group calls on US to recall Uganda, Nigeria envoys

AJWS asks John Kerry to reconsider diplomatic relationship with repressive and homophobic governments

By JTA 23 February 2014, 5:38 am

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Kenyan gays and lesbians and others supporting their cause wear masks to preserve their anonymity and one holds out a condom, as they stage a rare protest, against Uganda's increasingly tough stance against homosexuality and in solidarity with their counterparts there, outside the Uganda High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya on February 10, 2014. (photo credit: AP/Ben Curtis)

WASHINGTON – The American Jewish World Service called on the Obama administration to pull ambassadors from Uganda and Nigeria because of what it says are escalating anti-gay and other repressive measures by those governments.

In a statement, AJWS asked US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday to bring ambassadors from those two African countries back to the United States “in order to evaluate future diplomatic relationships.”

Ruth Messinger, the president of AJWS, cited Nigeria’s new laws targeting the LGBT community and the Ugandan government’s blocking of political demonstrations, banning the wearing of revealing clothing as well as its anti-LGBT policies. “We must send the message to both governments that these actions have consequences,” she said.

“As Jews, we know all too well that the stripping away of human rights from specific groups of individuals is often a precursor to targeted destruction,” she said in the statement. “We cannot continue to conduct business as usual while people lose their freedoms just because of who they are and whom they love. We must act now to put an end to this injustice.”

AJWS provides development assistance in Africa and other parts of the world.