afrol News, 28 April - Amnesty International has pleaded with the Senegalese government to protect nine men who had been acquitted on charges of homosexuality fearing the possible homophobic attacks in the Islamic dominated West African state.

Deputy Director of the Africa Programme Veronique Aubert said the decision by the Court of Appeal in Dakar to release them after they initially received an eight-year sentence was an indication that the men were not guilty.

“These nine men were prisoners of conscience, sentenced solely on the basis of alleged sexual conduct, and should never have been jailed in the first place,” said Ms Aubert in a statement.

According to Amnesty International, since their release on 20 April, the media and an Islamic organisation have disseminated homophobic statements describing the nine men as “vicious” or “perverts” spreading AIDS.

“Radio programmes have broadcast messages calling on the population to attack and throw stones at anyone suspected of 'being a homosexual'. These statements amount to advocacy of hatred constituting incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence,” the organisation said in a statement.

The nine men were arrested in Dakar on 19 December 2008 following anonymous accusations with regards to their sexual behaviour.

The deputy director said Senegal has over the last two years seen an increase in homophobic attacks, arbitrary arrests and increased hostility towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, same-sex practicing and transgender people in the country.

Amnesty International is also calling for an investigation into allegations of torture and other ill-treatment against the nine men while they were in custody at the Mbao Sicap police station in Dakar, and for those responsible to be brought to justice.

Under Senegalese penal code, homosexual acts are punishable by imprisonment of between one and five years and a fine of US $200 to 3,000 CFA francs, but the judge added three years to the maximum five-year sentence after ruling that the men were also members of a criminal organisation.

Senegal is one of Africa's strongest suppressors of gays and lesbians.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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