French lawmaker condemns surge in anti-LGBTQ+ persecution in Senegal
A prominent French Member of the European Parliament has voiced strong opposition to the escalating crackdown on LGBTQ+ individuals in Senegal, warning of a dangerous wave of state-sanctioned persecution. The politician is urging immediate diplomatic intervention from France to safeguard those at risk.
French politician decries Senegal’s harsh anti-LGBTQ+ legislation
Manon Aubry, a leading voice in the European Parliament and spokesperson for La France Insoumise, has sharply criticized Senegal’s recent legal amendments that criminalize same-sex relations with severe penalties. The updated legislation now imposes prison sentences ranging from five to ten years for individuals convicted under these provisions.
In a forceful statement shared across social media platforms, Aubry condemned what she described as a systematic campaign of oppression targeting Senegal’s LGBTQ+ community. She emphasized that personal freedoms and human dignity should never be subject to legislative punishment, calling the situation an affront to fundamental human rights.
Calls for urgent diplomatic action and asylum support
The French politician also extended her solidarity to a French national currently detained in Senegal under these charges, demanding swift diplomatic intervention. Aubry advocated for the individual’s immediate release and stressed the need for France to provide asylum to Senegalese refugees fleeing persecution based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Her remarks underscore growing international concern over the erosion of LGBTQ+ rights across West Africa, with Senegal emerging as a focal point of heightened legal and social discrimination against sexual minorities.