Senegal parliament doubles gay sex penalty: ‘Homosexuals will no longer breathe in this country’
Majority deputies celebrate after the adoption of a law doubling the penalties for homosexuality at the National Assembly in Dakar. (SEYLLOU / AFP via Getty Images)
Senegal’s parliament has passed legislation to increase the maximum sentence for homosexuality.
On Wednesday (11 March), Senegal’s National Assembly passed a bill that will double the maximum penalty for same-sex relations, making them punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Senegal already criminalised consensual same‑sex conduct under article 319 of the Penal Code, which prohibited “acts against nature”, with same-sex relations being punished with one to five years in prison.
The law, which modified the penal code, passed by 135 votes to zero, with three abstentions. It now awaits the signature of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
In addition to criminalising “any sexual act or act of a sexual nature between two people of the same sex”, the bill will also penalise anyone who accuses another of same-sex offences “without proof”, while “anyone who engages in advocacy” for same-sex relations can be handed three to seven years in prison.
‘Homosexuals will no longer breathe in this country’
As per Africa News, lawmaker Diaraye Ba declared during the debate, to the applause of some of her colleagues: “Homosexuals will no longer breathe in this country. Homosexuals will no longer have freedom of expression in this country.”
Under the bill, the maximum sentence will be given if the act was committed with a minor. Punishment will additionally include fines from two million to 10 million CFA francs ($3,500 to $17,600), compared to 100,000 to 1.5 million CFA francs previously.
As per Reuters, Imam Babacar Sylla, leader of And Samm Jikko Yi, a network of Islamic and civil society organisations, urged Faye to sign the bill into law as soon as possible.
“The longer it takes, the more complicated it will be. And these people, whom I consider a public danger, will continue to escape,” he said.
At least 32 out of Africa’s 54 countries have laws prohibiting or punishing same-sex relations, with the death penalty being imposed in Uganda, Mauritania and Somalia.
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