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Loading ...Convictions overturned for Senegal gays
04.20.2009 2:30pm EDT
(Dakar) An appeals court in the Senegal capital of Dakar overturned jail sentences Monday for nine men convicted on charges of homosexuality.
They were sentenced in January to eight years in prison on charges of “indecent and unnatural acts” and “forming associations of criminals.”All nine were involved in HIV-prevention work, their lawyer said.
The arrests came just weeks after Senegal hosted an international AIDS conference that included gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender participants.
Senegal, a primarily Muslim nation in West Africa, is one of 38 countries on the continent that criminalize homosexual acts. South Africa prompted continent-wide controversy in 2006 when it became the first African country to legalize gay marriage.
At the trial of the nine, the prosecution argued that the AIDS organization they were associated with was a front recruiting men into homosexuality.
Police officers burst into the private residence of an HIV outreach worker where the nine were allegedly holding a meeting. Police confiscated condoms and lubricants – tools used for HIV-prevention work.
The police allegedly forced several of the men to disclose family members’ phone numbers and threatened to inform their families. Sources told Human Rights Watch that the men were beaten in detention.
In appealing the sentence – the harshest ever to be handed down in Senegal for a homosexuality conviction – the men’s attorney argued that accusations against them were based on anonymous tip-offs.
The court was told that the men were engaged in a meeting - not sex, as the prosecution had claimed during the trial.
The prosecution did not contest the defense’s arguments.
In overturning the ruling, the court ordered the immediate release of the men.
Yes, I guess common sense takes a few days longer. Or some aid society with $$$ took a while to pull its strings. Whatever, yes!
At least there is some good news from Africa. These laws are outrageous.
AGREED!!
What is sad is that this country, so far advanced in so many ways, is only a scant few steps ahead of Senegal in their treatment of gay people.
Perhaps that is too strong a statement, but it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see Senegal grow beyond us in the next few years if we don’t begin pressing the fight as a community very soon.
Neil
Actually, you didn’t get it well.
The convictions weren’t overturned because Senegal doesn’t penalize homosexuality any more, but because they had no concrete evidence about it and because 8 years were too much.
Senegal remains still very very homophobic (and much more than in the United States).