The Great Ganesha

Reading the BBC this morning, I came across a story entitled Polygamous Lesbians Flee Sharia. Now, just think: How many controversial items are in the title itself? Firstly, we have “polygamous” which is certain to raise some eyebrows. Then we have “lesbians” – enough said about that. And finally, we have “Sharia” or Islamic law which, in and of itself, is a touchy topic, especially now. Put them together, and you have a story that rivals Elvis Impregnated With Alien Baby. Just like the tabloids, you’d expect it to be read like… hot cakes? Well, bad metaphors aside, it’s the most popular story right now. Surprise, surprise.

The story is even more racy than the title – a lesbian marries four women in Nigeria, where homosexuality is forbidden by the Sharia law there, and same-sex marriages are illegal.

A Nigerian lesbian who “married” four women last weekend in Kano State has gone into hiding from the Islamic police, with her partners.

The theatre where the elaborate wedding celebration was held on Sunday has been demolished by Kano city’s authorities.

…

The BBC’s Bala Ibrahim in Kano says Aunty Maiduguri and her four “wives” are thought to have gone into hiding the day after they married. [link]

Of course, polygamy is allowed by Sharia in Nigeria, and a man is allowed to take four wives if he can support them. If you ask me, I say more power to them all. Screw the outdated notions of the Nigerian legal system.

But forget about all that. I’m more worried about what’s happening to the Beeb. I’d expect this story to be in a bloody tabloid, not the BBC!

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