Chilean President Signs Hate Crime Bill into Law Three Months After Gay Man's Brutal Death at Hands of Neo-Nazis

A little more than three months after the death of Daniel Zamudio, who was beaten, stabbed, burned, and branded with a Swastika by a gang of neo-Nazis in March and died days later in a hospital, Chile's President Sebastian Pinera signed a hate crimes bill into law which had languished in the country's legislature for seven years, the AP reports:

"Without a doubt, Daniel's death was painful but it was not in vain," Pinera said at a press conference joined by Zamudio's parents.

"His passing not only unified wills to finally approve this anti-discrimination law but it also helped us examine our conscience and ask ourselves: have we ever discriminated someone? ... After his death we'll think twice, thrice or four times before we fall prey to that behavior."

Four suspects, some with criminal records for attacks on homosexuals, have been jailed in Zamudio's killing. Prosecutors are seeking murder charges.

Said Gay Liberation and Integration Movement President Rolando Jimenez to the AP: "This law is a giant leap toward creating tools that can prevent and punish discrimination. There's still a lot to be done and we need the institutions to enforce it."

Outpouring Of Support For Family Of Daniel Zamudio: VIDEO

All month long, Andy's been reporting on Daniel Zamudio, the Chilean gay man attacked by neo-Nazis; burned, cut, beaten, and left for dead in a parking lot with swastikas carved into his body. Zamudio persisted for weeks on life support before perishing on March 27th. On Friday he received a public funeral, and the streets of Santiago filled with friends.

Watch AFTER THE JUMP ...

UN Official Urges Chile to Adopt Tougher Laws Protecting LGBT People After Brutal Murder of Daniel Zamudio

The UN is calling on Chile to strengthen protections against LGBT People following the death earlier this week of Daniel Zamudio, who had been in a coma since being beaten, slashed, burned and branded with a Swastika by a gang of neo-Nazis.

The AP reports:

Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, says the “particularly abhorrent murder” of 24-year-old Daniel Zamudio, who died Tuesday night, 25 days after he was attacked, demands news laws against discrimination because of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Colville told reporters in Geneva on Friday that Chilean lawmakers also should enact hate crime legislation allowing violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity to be added as “an aggravating factor” in prosecutions.

Earlier this week, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said the government wouldn't rest until such laws are passed.

Chilean President Reacts to Murder of Gay Man, Says Government 'Won't Rest' Till Anti-Discrimination Law is Passed

Last night I reported on the death of Chilean gay man Daniel Zamudio, who has been in a coma since being beaten, slashed, burned and branded with a Swastika by a gang of neo-Nazis.

The horrific murder (it's a shame that's sometimes what it takes) has inspired Chile's President to speak out and vow action:

The case has prompted a national debate in Chile over hate crimes, and his death prompted Chilean President Sebastian Pinera to say from Asia that his government won't rest until a proposed anti-discrimination law is passed.

Four suspects are jailed, some with criminal records of attacks on gays. Prosecutors asked Wednesday for murder charges carrying life sentences.

Daniel Zamudio, Gay Man Brutally Attacked in Chile, Clings to Life

Earlier this month I reported on the attack on Daniel Zamudio, a gay Chilean man who was burned, sliced, beaten, and branded with a Swastika by a group of neo-Nazis. He has been on life support ever since, and is in grave condition, Chilean media outlets report.

Via Michael Lavers at EDGE:

La Tercera and other Chilean newspapers and media outlets suggested over the weekend that Daniel Zamudio is potentially near death. Zamudio’s condition deteriorated after he suffered a heart attack on March 19. Movilh (Chile's LGBT rights group) spokesperson Oscar Rementería told reporters on Sunday that Zamudio’s family has decided to keep him on life support.

"Daniel Zamudio’s family decided not to disconnect him," said Rementería, as La Tercera reported. "They are going to wait for his body to stop working on its own and this is going to happen within the next 48 hours and it will most likely going to be today."

Emilio Villalón, director of Hospital de Urgencia Asistencia Pública, confirmed late on Sunday that Zamudio remains in critical condition.

Zamudio's attackers have been arrested and will undoubtedly be charged with murder should he die.

Neo-Nazis Attack Gay Chilean Man, Slice His Ear, Burn Him, and Brand Him with Swastikas

A hideous attack has been reported on a gay man in Chile. Daniel Zamudio remains hospitalized in a coma after a group of neo-Nazis attacked him over the weekend. Chilean news reports can be found here, here, and here.

Michael Lavers at EDGE translates the reports:

El Mercurio reported that Daniel Zamudio, 24, was found in Parque San Borja early Saturday morning. El Movimiento de Integración y Liberación Homosexual (Movilh), the country’s largest LGBT rights group, told La Tercera that Zamudio’s attackers struck him with blunt objects before they cut off part of his ear, carved swastikas into his abdomen and burned other parts of his body with cigarettes.

Zamudio’s mother told the newspaper that her son had gone to work at a store on Friday, but she did not know his whereabouts until he was found in a park the following day. She told La Tercera that neo-Nazi groups had previously threatened Zamudio inside a popular Santiago nightclub.

More information is available for Spanish speakers at MOVILH's (Chile's LGBT rights group) Facebook page.

Said MOVILH in a statement: "We condemn this cruel act that tramples the equal dignity of all human beings. We ask the Chilean authorities to bring the guilty to justice. A crime this hateful cannot go unpunished."

Ricky Martin has also spoken out about the attack, tweeting: "No más odio,no más discriminación. Espero que se haga justicia YA. Mucha luz para Daniel y toda su familia."