Senegal Issues First Conviction After Toughened Anti-LGBT Law

A court in Pikine-Guediawaye, a suburb of Dakar, has issued the first conviction since Senegal toughened its anti-LGBT law. A 24-year-old man was sentenced to six years in prison and fined 2 million CFA francs (about $3,300).

According to the Associated Press , the man was convicted on April 10 of “acts against nature and public indecency.” He had been arrested earlier in April.

Human Rights Watch researcher Larissa Kojoue said the new law has created a climate of “constant fear” for LGBT people in Senegal. She said arrests have increased “because now there is backing from the state apparatus.” She also said criminalizing same-sex relations and arresting people because of their sexual orientation or gender expression violates rights protected under international law.

The new law was signed by Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye after approval by the National Assembly. It raised the maximum prison sentence for same-sex relations from five to 10 years and introduced prison terms of three to seven years for the “promotion” or “financing” of homosexuality.