Affaire Pape Cheikh Diallo et Cie : L'association Stop Homophobie réagit
The Stop Homophobia association expressed its "concern" in a statement to AFP on Monday following the recent arrest in Senegal of 12 people, including two local celebrities, accused in particular of "acts against nature," a term referring to sexual relations between two people of the same sex in this West African country where they are prohibited.
In Senegal, a predominantly Muslim and very devout country, the law punishes so-called "unnatural acts with a person of the same sex" with one to five years' imprisonment. People are regularly arrested there on these charges.
The gendarmerie announced on Saturday that they had arrested twelve Senegalese for "criminal association, unnatural acts, voluntary transmission of HIV/AIDS through unprotected sexual intercourse and endangering the lives of others".
Two celebrities in Senegal, Pape Cheikh Diallo, radio and television presenter, and singer Djiby Dramé, are among the 12 people arrested, a member of the gendarmerie's communications division confirmed to AFP on Sunday.
"STOP Homophobia expresses its concern over these arrests," Terrence Khatchadourian, secretary general of the Paris-based association, which regularly helps Senegalese people who are victims of discrimination in their country, told AFP.
"This case is a reminder that in Senegal, sexual relations between consenting adults remain criminalized, exposing LGBTQIA+ people to arbitrary arrests and stigmatization," Khatchadourian continued.
In this country where homosexuality is widely considered a deviance and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community is regular, the case is stirring up social networks and making headlines.
The initial arrest of a man suspected of "engaging in unnatural acts" despite being HIV positive led to the arrest of 11 others, according to the gendarmerie.
She specifies that at least six of the 12 arrested had tested positive for HIV and that several had "continued to have unprotected sex with other partners, all men".
In recent years, the issue of homosexuality has often stirred up Senegalese society, with some seeing it as a Western value incompatible with their own.
Several demonstrations called for by religious associations have taken place in recent years to demand harsher penalties.
While still in the opposition, the current Senegalese Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, regularly promised to toughen the repression of homosexuality.
Having become head of government, he warned Westerners in May 2024 that their activism in favor of homosexuals and sexual minorities could become a "new casus belli".
In October 2023, images showing a lively crowd surrounding what was presented as the body of a gay man, exhumed to be burned, sparked outrage. Similar events have occurred repeatedly across the country.
In 2021, Senegal was removed from the list of safe countries of origin by the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA), due to risks related to sexual orientation.
Commentaires (36)
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté :
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter ou TikTok pour l'afficher automatiquement.