By Africanews with AP
Persecuted for being gay and disowned by his family, Assane (not his real name) left Senegal seven months ago for France.
As Senegal was tightening anti-homosexuality laws, the pressure and stigma from his own family also became unbearable. Now he’s seeking asylum in France.
“It’s been at most six or seven months since I left my country because of my sexual orientation, which my father had found out about,” said Assane.
Senegal has enacted legislation doubling the maximum penalty for same-sex relations, making them punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The new law additionally penalises anyone who accuses another of same-sex offences “without proof”. After debating for several hours, lawmakers approved the bill by a vote of 135 in favour, zero opposed and three abstentions on March 11.
Under the law, the maximum sentence will be handed down if the act was committed with a minor. Punishment will additionally include fines from two million to 10 million CFA francs ($3,500 to $17,600), compared to 100,000 to 1.5 million CFA francs previously.
According to media reports, dozens of men have been arrested under the anti-LGBTQ laws since February, when police detained 12 men, including two local celebrities, the start of a spate of detentions.
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