Two plays about AIDS awareness were among the several items burned during a religious demonstration against the introduction of sex education in Kenyan schools. On 31 August 1996, hundreds of Catholic youth, led by Catholic Church Cardinal Maurice Otunga, marched through the streets of Nairobi. The marchers ended up at Uhuru Park, where the protest […]
Two plays about AIDS awareness were among the several items
burned during a religious demonstration against the introduction
of sex education in Kenyan schools. On 31 August 1996, hundreds
of Catholic youth, led by Catholic Church Cardinal Maurice
Otunga, marched through the streets of Nairobi. The marchers
ended up at Uhuru Park, where the protest culminated in the
burning of heaps of condoms and AIDS awareness literature
including the short play “Life, Love and Aids” along with its
Kiswahili translation, “Maisha, Mapenzi na Ukimwi”; and the
pamphlet “Peter and Anne Discuss Aids with Auntie Mary”. The
play, intended for primary school children, was said to be
offensive to Catholics.
This is the second time that Cardinal Otunga has destroyed
contraceptives and sex education material in public. In August
1995, the then Imam of Jamia Mosque joined Cardinal Otunga in
burning a booklet on sex education prepared by the Kenya Scout
Association.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
and other literature is a direct contravention of Article 19 of
the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights which
stipulates that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and
expression
Appeals To
Cardinal Maurice Otunga
P.O. Box 14231
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 02 441919
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
