Senegal Prosecutes LGBT Persons

Washington

In response to a court in Senegal on July 31 sentencing Tamsir Jupiter Ndiaye to six months imprisonment for alleged acts of homosexuality, Freedom House issued the following statement:

“Senegal’s continued prosecution of LGBT individuals contradicts the country’s overall commitment to universal human rights,” said Jenai Cox, senior program manager for Africa. “The penal code that criminalizes unnatural sexual acts should be repealed as it encourages discrimination, undermines freedom of expression, and violates Senegalese and international law.”

Background:
Article 319.3 criminalizes homosexuality with up to five years in prison and a fine. The law was last applied in February 2014 when two men were sentenced to six months imprisonment for allegedly engaging in same-sex relations.

Senegal is rated Free in Freedom in the World 2015 and Partly Free in Freedom of the Press 2015.