SENEGALESE RALLY TO CRIMINALISE HOMOSEXUALITY

Several hundred protesters rallied Sunday in Dakar to demand that homosexuality be made a crime in Senegal, according to AFP journalists. It is not illegal to identify as gay in the deeply conservative Muslim nation, but same-sex activity is already punishable by up to five years in prison. Religious leaders and civil society figures addressed hundreds of jubilant protesters, who had gathered in a central square for the rally organised by And Samm Jikko Yi, a civil society collective that promotes “correct values”. Ousmane Kouta, a representative of a student religious group, told the crowd that Senegal is a country of faith and values. “It is homophobic and will remain so forever,” he said, to cheers and chanted slogans. Aminata Diallo, a member of an association for young Muslims, told AFP that she attended the rally to protest homosexuality and demand its criminalisation.