( CNN ) -- A security official in Yemen 's southern Lahj province say that religious militants have shot dead a man they had accused of being gay . Witnesses said that two gunmen on a motorbike killed Hashim Al-Asimi as he was heading home Monday . The witnesses , who knew the victim , told CNN that the militants had warned him to stop his homosexual activity at least twice previously and that he would be killed . Read more : Campaigners push for marriage equality worldwide . `` Many extremists live in Lahj , and being gay is unacceptable to nearly everyone in the province , '' said a Yemeni security official in the province who asked to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to talk to the media . `` This incident has the hallmarks of extremist groups , but al Qaeda has not announced responsibility for the attack , '' the security official added . Not everyone knew Al-Asimi was gay , said the witnesses , who added that he was not in a relationship . The official said that residents in the area did not report the death to police . After a crowd gathered at the scene , security forces discovered the body about two hours after the shooting . Homosexuality is against the law in Yemen . The performance of homosexual acts , even between consenting adults , is punishable by death .
Gunmen killed Hashim Al-Asimi as he was heading home , witnesses say . The witnesses said the militants had warned him to stop his homosexual activity . Homosexuality is against the law in Yemen . Score: 6