A COMMONS motion tabled by Harry Cohen MP attacking the Ugandan government's plan to introduce the death penalty for gays has won the backing of 20 MPs.

The Leyton and Wanstead MP is calling for the British government and European Union to apply pressure on the Ugandan administration over the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which would make some homosexual acts punishable by death.

Related offences under the bill, such as “aiding and abetting” homosexuality, could result in a prison sentence.

The Early Day Motion put forward last week says the bill would violate the equality and non-discrimination provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter of Human and People's Rights.

It calls on the British government to ask Uganda to decriminalise homosexuality and outlaw discrimination, in line with “international humanitarian law”.

Early Day Motions are rarely debated in the Commons, but are used to draw attention to issues.

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