Society/ Senegal enacts tougher anti-LGBT law despite UN criticism
President of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Faye has signed a controversial law doubling the maximum prison sentence for same-sex sexual acts from five to ten years. The legislation also criminalizes the “promotion” of homosexuality, including public representation or financial backing by individuals or groups, with penalties of three to seven years in jail.
The bill, a campaign pledge by President Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, sailed through parliament on March 11 with 135 votes in favor, none against, and three abstentions.
Authorities had already banned same-sex relations under “acts against nature” provisions, and a recent wave of arrests including two public figures and a journalist spurred the move.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk called the law “deeply worrying” and a violation of “sacrosanct human rights.”
Rights groups had urged the president to reject it, but the government dismissed international criticism, arguing the measures reflect Senegalese values.
Senegal joins a regional trend: Burkina Faso and Mali recently banned homosexual acts, Uganda enacted some of the world’s harshest anti-LGBT laws (including the death penalty in certain cases), and Ghana is planning similar legislation.
