IGLHRC Denounces Mass Arrest of Gays in Dakar

From Behind the Mask - February 5, 2008

By BTM Reporter

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has sent a letter to Senegalese Minister of Justice, demanding the release of up to twenty gay men allegedly arrested on suspicion of being gay in Dakar since 3 February this year.

This came after a Senegalese popular local magazine, Icones, published photographs of a marriage ceremony, believed to have happened more than a year ago, between two Senegalese men.

Sources report that the photographs were sold to the magazine by the photographer for 1.500.000 CFA Francs (R21 000) . Arrests were reportedly undertaken upon the orders of Asane Ndoye, Head of Senegalese Police Division of Criminal Investigation.

Mass arrests of people simply because they are gay terrorize the whole community", Paula Ettelbrick, Executive Director of IGLHRC complained. She added that the "inhuman" treatment of gay men and lesbians must stop and called upon the world to enforce international human rights law.

Meanwhile gay people in Senegal fear for their lives. Some have fled the country while others are in hiding. "We are afraid for our lives especially those of us shown in the photographs", Jean R. a Senegalese gay activist, told ILGA from a hotel where he is seeking refuge.

Senegal is one of the few Francophone African countries that penalize homosexuality. Under Article 3.913 of the Senegalese penal code, homosexual acts are punishable by imprisonment of between one and five years and a fine of 100,000 ($200) to 1,500,000 ($3,000) CFA francs. While there are occasional arrests and convictions of gay men under the Article, social stigma and blackmail are the most prevalent abuses faced by gay men in the country.

"Many consider Senegal to be one of the most progressive African countries on the issue of homosexuality", Joel Nana, IGLHRC's Program Associate for West Africa said.

"The government has included a commitment to fighting HIV among men who have sex with men in its national AIDS response plan since 2005. That's why we found these arrests to be very distressing", he concluded.