The authorities of Senegal, where the repression of homosexuality has intensified for several years, have announced the arrest of twelve men, including several HIV-positive individuals, accused of “acts against nature” and of “deliberate transmission of HIV/AIDS”.
The case is making headlines in Senegal, where the press readily echoes state homophobia. The gendarmerie announced on Saturday, February 7, that they had arrested twelve men accused of “association de malfaiteurs, actes contre nature, transmission volontaire du VIH sida par rapports sexuels non protégés et mise en danger de la vie d’autrui”. Among those charged are two national celebrities: Pape Cheikh Diallo, a radio and television host, and the singer Djiby Dramé.
A first arrest of a man suspected of “s’adonner à des actes contre nature” despite his HIV-positive status led to the arrest of the other 11, the Senegalese gendarmerie said, noting that at least six of the 12 detainees had tested positive for HIV, and accusing them of having “continued to engage in unprotected sexual relations with other partners, all of them men”.
Outbreaks of Homophobia in Senegal
“STOP Homophobie expresses concern over these arrests” reacted to Agence France-Presse (AFP) Terrence Khatchadourian, secretary-general of the French association that regularly assists Senegalese victims of discrimination in their country. And he stressed: “This case recalls that in Senegal, sexual relations between consenting adults remain criminalized, exposing LGBTQIA+ individuals to arbitrary arrests and stigmatization.” Indeed, in this West African country, the law punishes homosexuality with one to five years in prison, and arrests are regular under the charge of “an act against nature with an individual of the same sex”.
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Sophie Brennan