Recently settled homos should stay away from Senegal, where they just jailed two men who married in Belgium.
The charges, however, are deeper than just tying the same-sex knot:
Senegal has jailed a Belgian retiree and his male Senegalese domestic helper for two years for “homosexual marriage and acts against nature,” their lawyer said Thursday.
Richard Lambot, 61, and Moustapha Gueye, 63, who wedded in Belgium — where civil gay marriage is legal — last month, were sentenced by the Dakar regional court on Augusut 21, said lawyer Seyni Ndione.
“To help Moustapha Gueye get papers to live in Belgium, Richard Lambot married him in July,” Ndione said, after which they returned to Senegal — a predominantly Muslim nation where homosexuality is frowned upon.
“Acts against nature”? That’s more than a frown. Ndione blames a botched police investigation for that charge, not the nation’s rampant homophobia.
Qjersey
Belgium better step up to the plate and demand their release and “extradition” to their nation and the poor men’s homeland.
Charley
Two people who love one another is their only crime.
Jaroslaw
Well, even if they don’t love each other, it is not as if straight people don’t marry each other all the time for immigration status. Whether they love each other or not, jail time seems exceedingly harsh. Or do they not have any other crime in Senegal, no better way to use their resources because they are so rich?
hells kitchen guy
Hard to believe the Belgian charges d’affaires won’t have something to say about this.
scott
why would they return to Senegal? I don’t understand that part.
Paul Hill
The age reported here is mistaken, it actually is: Richard Lambot 65 years and Moustapha Gueye 23 years. Senegal is in the middle ages regarding homosexuality and tolerance towards minorities. All aid to Muslim Senegal should stop until they fall in line with the civilised world. Corruption is endemic. The president is a close friend with Libyan despot Gaddafi.
The European Union which has a representation in Dakar should put pressure on the Senegalese government to release Richard Lambot and Moustapha Gueye immediately and unconditionally.