- A French citizen has been held in detention in Senegal since February 14, facing charges including “unnatural acts.”
- This comes as Senegal significantly strengthened its legislation against same-sex relations in March, with penalties now extending up to ten years in prison.
- The French embassy in Dakar is actively observing the situation of its national.
A French citizen has now spent two months incarcerated in Senegal. The individual was taken into custody on February 14, 2024, on multiple charges including “unnatural acts, criminal association, money laundering, and attempted HIV transmission,” as part of a broader series of arrests. This detention unfolds amidst a rising climate of homophobia within the country and numerous arrests targeting individuals suspected of homosexual activity.
United Nations criticizes law as “flouting” human rights
In March, Senegal further intensified its legal framework against homosexual relations, which now carry sentences ranging from five to ten years in prison. Illustrating this crackdown, a young Senegalese man received a six-year prison sentence in April after being apprehended during a sexual encounter with another man in a Dakar suburb. Regarding the detained French national, our embassy in Dakar is diligently monitoring the situation. Our consular services have conducted four visits, ensuring consular protection, and maintain close communication with the individual’s family, as do officials at the Quai d’Orsay in Paris.
In Senegal, a predominantly Muslim nation, same-sex relationships are widely viewed as a deviation. The government’s commitment to strengthening these repressive measures has long been a politically significant promise. Upon the law’s enactment by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned it, stating it “flouts” fundamental human rights.
A spokesperson for the Quai d’Orsay previously voiced “concern regarding both the increased penalties for LGBT+ individuals in Senegal and the introduction of new offenses related to the advocacy or financial promotion of homosexuality.” France firmly asserts its unwavering commitment to the universal and indivisible respect for human rights. We also stand by our dedication to the global decriminalization of homosexuality, the protection of LGBT+ rights, and the ongoing battle against discrimination rooted in sexual orientation and gender identity.
