US expresses concern after Burundi president says gay people should be stoned

The president of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, called on his people to stone homosexual individuals last week. The United States stated on Friday that it was worried by his remarks. In a country where LGBT persons already risk social exclusion and jail sentences of up to two years if found guilty of same-sex offences, the remarks intensified a crackdown on sexual minorities. “The United States is deeply troubled by President Ndayishimiye’s remarks targeting certain vulnerable and marginalized Burundians,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. “We call on all of Burundi’s leaders to respect the inherent dignity and inalienable rights, including equal access to justice, of every member of Burundian society.” The comments regarding stoning were not directly included in the statement. Uganda enacted a bill in May that carried the death penalty for certain same-sex crimes. A number of measures have been put in place by the US, such as travel bans and Uganda’s exclusion from tariff-free trade agreements.