Lawmakers in Senegal are seeking stricter law against same sex relationship with a newly proposed 10-year prison sentence for individuals found guilty of the act.
The proposed legislation approved last week by cabinet was transmitted to the lawmakers on Tuesday following a wave of multiple arrests of individuals involving in same-sex acts.
Under the current laws, same-sex acts are punishable by between one and five years in prison, as well as fines but the new proposal seeks to raise the maximum sentence to 10 years.
Prime Minister of Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, while addressing the lawmakers described the act as “against nature,” adding that “if an act was committed against a minor, it will attract the maximum penalty.” The BBC reported.
Under Senegalese law, a person slammed with a maximum penalty usually serves life in prison.
The bill also proposes a three to seven- year jail term for individuals found to be promoting or advocating same-sex relations.
It prescribed penalties for individuals who accuse others of same sex “without proof.”
The proposed bill recommends that fines of up to 10 million CFA, about $18000 will be imposed on persons found guilty of any of the crimes relating to the act, including accusations of same-sex relations without proof and advocating and promoting the act.
Human rights group such as the Human Rights Watch described the proposed bill as a “violation of multiple internationally protected rights, including equality and non-discrimination.”
However, no date has been set for a parliamentary vote on the bill, in a chamber dominated by Mr Sanko Pastef party.