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More than 100 people have reportedly been arrested in Senegal in recent months over suspected homosexual acts. Some of those detained include local celebrities.
Senegal has charged 71 men with “unnatural acts” as authorities step up enforcement of the country’s tougher laws against same-sex relations.
The men were brought before a court following a preliminary investigation, according to a statement from the public prosecutor’s office.
Authorities dropped charges against another 28 defendants, while allegations relating to endangering lives and the deliberate transmission of HIV/AIDS were also dismissed in the case.
The latest action comes months after Senegal introduced legislation significantly increasing penalties for same-sex relations. Under the new law, offenders face between five and 10 years in prison, compared with the previous maximum of five years. The legislation also criminalises the promotion of homosexuality.
More than 100 people have reportedly been arrested in Senegal in recent months over suspected homosexual acts. Some of those detained include local celebrities.
The crackdown has also attracted international concern, with rights groups warning that the tougher legislation could increase discrimination and make it more difficult for vulnerable groups to access essential health services.
In a separate development, prosecutors dropped charges against a French engineer in his 30s who had been detained since February over allegations of “unnatural acts”. The public prosecutor’s office has appealed that decision.
The latest arrests and prosecutions highlight the increasingly hostile legal environment for LGBTQ people in Senegal following the enactment of the new legislation.
