2007年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Gays Charged With Sodomy, Could Face D

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
10 August 2007

An Islamic Sharia court in northern Nigeria has ordered 18 men to be kept in prison pending¹ their trial for alleged² sodomy. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa reports that the men were arrested for allegedly hosting a gay marriage in a predominantly Muslim city.

The 18 men could face the death penalty if convicted. They were arrested in a hotel in Bauchi, were said to be wearing female clothing and had gathered to celebrate a gay marriage.
 
Local officials say the men's action contravened³ Islamic law, which governs Bauchi state in Muslim-dominated northern Nigeria.
 
Bala Ahmed, spokesman of the Bauchi state sharia commission, says the suspects were all young men.

"They are young; they are very young, promising⁴ children if they use the best of their knowledge and their time," he said.  "They are all youth, they are 18 years, 20 years, 25 years. Nobody, I believe, among them is up to 30 years. Fine and handsome-looking, but they are misusing⁵ their time, misusing their opportunity to get involved in this evil practice."

Bauchi is among a dozen states in northern Nigeria practicing Sharia since 2000, following the end of military rule.
 
More than 10 Muslims have been convicted for sexual offenses⁶ and sentenced to death by stoning. Most of the sentences have been commuted⁷ to prison terms or rejected on appeal. But Ahmed says the Islamic council is determined⁸ to extract maximum punishment for the 18 men.

"If they are found guilty, let them be punished, so that it will serve as a deterrent⁹ to those who are intending to do this," he added.  "Because we want to stop this menace completely. We don't want to hear about this homosexuality in our society."

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a southern Christian¹⁰, unsuccessfully initiated¹¹ a bill to ban gay marriage in Nigeria.  Like many African countries, Nigeria is a conservative society where homosexuality is considered a taboo¹².

1 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

2 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

3 contravened   

v.取消，违反( contravene的过去式 )

参考例句：

• Mr. Shell is said to have contravened the regulation. 听说史尔先生违反了规定。 来自互联网
• Your behaviour contravened the law of the country. 你的行为触犯了国家的法律。 来自互联网

4 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

5 misusing   

v.使用…不当( misuse的现在分词 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用

参考例句：

• This means we must stop misusing them. 也就是说，我们已必须停止滥用抗菌素不可了。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 预防生物武器
• Misusing organic fertilizer may cause a decrease in the soil's quality. 滥用有机肥料可能会导致土地的土质下降。 来自互联网

6 offenses   

n.进攻( offense的名词复数 )；（球队的）前锋；进攻方法；攻势

参考例句：

• It's wrong of you to take the child to task for such trifling offenses. 因这类小毛病责备那孩子是你的不对。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Thus, Congress cannot remove an executive official except for impeachable offenses. 因此，除非有可弹劾的行为，否则国会不能罢免行政官员。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

7 commuted   

通勤( commute的过去式和过去分词 )； 减（刑）； 代偿

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment. 他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• The death sentence may be commuted to life imprisonment. 死刑可能減为无期徒刑。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 deterrent   

n.阻碍物，制止物；adj.威慑的，遏制的

参考例句：

• Large fines act as a deterrent to motorists.高额罚款是对开车的人的制约。
• I put a net over my strawberries as a deterrent to the birds.我在草莓上罩了网，免得鸟歇上去。

10 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

11 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

12 taboo   

n.禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用；adj.禁忌的；v.禁忌，禁制，禁止

参考例句：

• The rude words are taboo in ordinary conversation.这些粗野的字眼在日常谈话中是禁忌的。
• Is there a taboo against sex before marriage in your society?在你们的社会里，婚前的性行为犯禁吗？