A woman could face jail in Tanzania after a video of her kissing another woman and presenting her with a ring went viral.
Homosexuality is illegal in Tanzania as it is considered "against the order of nature", and the woman was arrested in the northwestern town of Geita after the clip of her at a party was widely shared on social media.
The town's police chief, Mponjoli Mwabulambo, said the woman was in custody and that officers were searching for the other woman in the video, which some Tanzanians condemned online as immoral.
The arrest comes during an even stronger crackdown on homosexuality in the country. Were the women to be convicted, they could be put behind bars. In Tanzania, male homosexual sex carries a sentence anywhere between 30 years and life in prison.
President John Magufuli has threatened to arrest and expel activists and de-register organisations that campaign for gay rights since he came to power two years ago.
In October, officers arrested 12 men after raiding a meeting at a hotel in the former capital city of Dar es Salaam, believing the gathering was promoting same-sex relationships.
Being gay is not a choice, either in Africa
jean rossignol 🌈 and Milk ♥️Turing liked and retweeted this post, thanks so much!!
ReplyDeleteBy jean rossignol 🌈:
ReplyDeleteL'homophobie décomplexée a pris un malheureux essor au niveau international (Tchétchénie, Egypte, Turquie, ...) ces derniers mois.
Les droits humains les plus élémentaires sont bafoués par des pays qui ont adhéré à la Charte des Droits de l'homme de l'ONU.
La diplomatie française et le gouvernement doivent s'engager et avoir une parole forte contre ces exactions.
Personne ne comprendrait qu'elle regarde et laisse faire.