Protesters have taken to the streets in Namibia ahead of a court ruling on whether a gay father can return home from South Africa with his newborn twin daughters, who were born to a surrogate mother.

Phillip Luhl says his daughters are stateless after the Namibian authorities refused to issue emergency travel papers.

He says the South African birth certificate recognises him and his Mexican husband (Guillermo Delgado) as the twins’ parents, not the surrogate mother.

Namibia does not allow same-sex marriage.

Activists have decried the government’s stance saying it is discriminatory and undermines equality especially for members of the LGBTQ community.