The law aimed at strengthening the repression of homosexuality in Senegal is causing reactions abroad. On his social networks, Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Xavier Bettel, expressed his concern about this text, which is set to be examined on Wednesday by the National Assembly of Senegal.
“Learning that next week, Senegal wants to legislate by considering homosexuality or bisexuality as punishable acts of the same nature as zoophilia or necrophilia is deeply concerning,” he wrote.
In his message, he stated that this initiative reflects a persistent misunderstanding of sexual orientation. “It demonstrates once again that many do not understand that attraction to a person of the same sex is not a choice, but a reality of nature. On the other hand, not accepting it is a choice,” he added.
According to Agence France-Presse, Senegalese deputies are due to meet in a plenary session on Wednesday to examine this draft law, which proposes to toughen the existing legislation. The text notably suggests doubling the penalties for same-sex relations, raising them to up to ten years in prison. It also provides for sentences of three to seven years for anyone accused of “promoting” homosexuality.
In recent weeks, the West African country has seen an intensification of repressive measures targeting people suspected of homosexuality. At the beginning of February, twelve men were arrested for “acts against nature,” a term used to describe same-sex relations. According to local media, a wave of almost daily arrests subsequently targeted at least thirty people, often following denunciations or phone searches.
In this context, several human rights organizations have expressed concern over the escalation of repression and attacks targeting LGBTQ+ people.
