Senegal's parliament has approved a stringent new law that doubles the maximum prison sentence for same-sex sexual acts to 10 years and criminalizes the "promotion" of homosexuality. The legislation, a key campaign promise from President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, passed with 135 votes in favor. This move follows a recent surge in arrests related to alleged same-sex relationships, which are already illegal in the Muslim-majority nation.
The government defended the law, stating it reflects the views of the Senegalese people who, according to a government spokesman, "firmly oppose" homosexuality. Conservative activists have long pushed for stricter penalties to uphold perceived cultural and religious norms.
However, human rights organizations are raising alarms. Larissa Kojoué, a researcher for Human Rights Watch, warned that the law violates internationally protected rights and could escalate discrimination and violence against sexual minorities. Experts also caution that further criminalization could hinder vital HIV prevention and treatment efforts, potentially undermining Senegal's successful HIV control program. Dr. Safiétou Thiam, executive secretary of the National Council for the Fight Against Aids, expressed concern that the law risks undoing decades of progress in combating the epidemic.