Chad is likely to become the 37th African country to outlaw homosexuality after politicians voted in favor of a proposed law that would make same-sex relations a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison
Chad is likely to become the 37th African country to outlaw homosexuality after politicians voted in favor of a proposed law that would make same-sex relations a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison, reports The Guardian.
According to Amnesty International, same-sex relations are illegal – and in some punishable by death – in 36 of Africa's 54 countries.
Chad's penal code does not explicitly mention homosexuality but the proposed amendment states the punishment for anyone who has sexual intercourse with someone of the same sex is 15 to 20 years in jail and a fine of 50,000-500,000 Central African francs (around $100-$1,000).
Government officials have said that the measure, which has yet to be ratified by President Idriss Déby, is intended to “protect the family and to comply with Chadian society”.
The Robert F Kennedy Centre for Justice and Human Rights called on Déby to strike down the proposed law:
“By criminalising homosexuality, Chad's proposed penal code is an instrument of discrimination, not of justice. I urge president Déby and the Chadian parliament to reject any attempts to make prejudice the law of the land.”
Florent Geel, Africa director of the International Federation of Human Rights, said that although it is to be welcomed that the proposed bill would abolish the death penalty, this positive “is unfortunately marred by the criminalisation of homosexuality.”
According to Geel, while the reform of the penal code had been in preparation for 10 years, the question of homosexuality, while considered immoral, had never been an issue in Chad.
A number of countries in Africa have recently enacted severe anti-gay laws. Some observers believe this may be a response to the increased visibility and assertiveness of LGBT people in Africa. However, US evangelical Christians – chief among them Scott Lively – have been widely blamed for instigating draconian anti-gay legislation in Uganda and other countries.
Last month, The Gambia passed a bill imposing life imprisonment for “aggravated homosexuality.”
In January, the Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, signed into law a bill criminalising same-sex “amorous relationships” and membership of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights groups.
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe regularly attacks LGBT people in speeches and recently said he resented – but continues to accept – western aid because it depends on conditions such as accepting homosexuality.
Although Uganda's harsh anti-gay law was struck down by judges on a technicality, it is expected to be reintroduced by MPs.
