Senegal Ramps Up Charges of Homosexuality in Run Up to Election
LGBT+ activist groups in Senegal are reporting a surge in anti-gay arrests in the lead up to elections, reports 76 Crimes.
Those charged for “acts against nature”, a blanket term for homosexuality, can be sentenced to up to five years in prison and fines of more than $2,500.
“As the elections in Senegal approach, parties are making their stand against the LGBTIQ+ community by arresting members of the community,” wrote African LFBT+ group Pan Africa.
“The Senegalese candidates and government needs to be held accountable for their homophobic stance and the human rights violations being perpetrated as a platform for election. We stand in solidarity with our Senegalese comrades.”
Senegalese LGBTI group Arc en Ciel warned that young queer people in the country needed to start preparing themselves for further crackdowns, “With the approach of presidential elections, the hunt for sexual minorities begins because the government is preparing to answer those who label them pro-homosexual.”
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