Senegal - gay rights
Court of appeal quashes conviction of homosexuals
Article published on the 2009-04-20 Latest update 2009-04-20 15:53 TU
A court in Louga, Senegal
(Photo: Dimworld)
Senegal’s Court of Appeal quashed nine convictions for homosexuality on Monday and ordered the immediate release of the men who had been sentenced to eight years in prison.
The freedmen had been sentenced to five years for homosexual acts and an additional three years for working for an association that recruited gay men.
The men were part of a group providing education about HIV and Aids, and were convicted of “indecent acts against nature” and membership of an allegedly criminal organisation.
Defence lawyers for the men argued that the police reports which formed the basis of the prosecution were completely reliant on anonymous tip-offs.
The prosecution did not contest the defence’s claims.
Homosexuality is illegal in Senegal and there is no gay scene in the country. The eight-year sentence was the longest prison sentence ever handed down for homosexuality.
