Senegal’s prime minister sonko intensifies stance against homosexuality
Senegal’s prime minister sonko intensifies stance against homosexuality
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has sharply criticized what he describes as foreign pressure to normalize homosexuality in Senegal, a nation where anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment remains deeply entrenched. The remarks come amid ongoing arrests of individuals suspected of same-sex relations.
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In early March, Senegal passed a law doubling penalties for same-sex relations, increasing prison sentences to five to ten years. The legislation was signed into law by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on March 31.
Rejection of foreign criticism
Speaking to lawmakers, Ousmane Sonko dismissed international criticism, particularly from France, and ruled out any moratorium on enforcing the law. This comes despite a mid-May appeal by over thirty African-origin public figures, published in a major French newspaper, warning of a climate of fear, hatred, and violence since the law’s passage.
“Ending the ‘spread’ (sic) of homosexuality”
The Prime Minister instead urged the judiciary to enforce the law “fully and perfectly,” asserting that its goal was to curb the “proliferation” of homosexuality. While this rhetoric resonates politically in Senegal, it risks fueling further stigmatization, denunciations, and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals. Even without endorsing Western debates on the issue, upholding human dignity and protecting against hatred should remain fundamental principles.