Wests Homosexual Policies Under Fire by Senegalese Prime Minister

Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has made comments criticizing Western nations for their stance on homosexuality. During a speech to the National Assembly on Friday, Sonko stated that there is a form of tyranny where eight billion people are being targeted by a small group of countries with significant resources and media control.

The new legislation in Senegal, which came into effect in late March, has been met with criticism from human rights groups. The law increases the prison sentence for same-sex sexual acts from five years to 10 years, and also criminalizes the financing of same-sex relationships and the promotion of homosexual acts.

According to Volker Turk, the United Nations Human Rights chief, the legislation poses significant concerns for individuals in Senegal. “This law exposes people to hate crimes, abuse, arbitrary arrests, blackmail and widespread discrimination,” he stated.

The legislation coincides with an increase in arrests of gay people in Senegal. In February, 12 males were arrested in Dakar for alleged “acts against nature”. Human Rights Watch has called on the government to protect LGBTQ rights and release those arrested.

The law is part of a broader trend in Africa, where many countries have adopted stricter anti-LGBTQ laws in recent years. According to available data, 65 countries worldwide criminalize same-sex relations, with more than half of them located in Africa.

Source: Al Jazeera