Hamadou Tidiane Sy
6 February 2008
Dakar — Police in Senegal have arrested at least seven people allegedly involved in the celebration of a gay marriage in a restaurant in the outskirts of Dakar, raising again debate about morality and individual freedom in a country caught between conservatism and the desire to project a tolerant image.
The identities of the people, who are under police custody but not charged yet, were not revealed except for one Pape Mbaye who is unknown to the public but whose name has been given by one newspaper with no further details about his profile.
The arrest took place on Sunday following the publication by a glossy magazine of pictures allegedly taken during the celebration of the alleged same sex marriage.
The local press and other web sites indicate that at least five of the people arrested appear in the pictures published in the latest issue by of glossy monthly magazine, Icone specialising in Dakar's trends, night life and jet-setters.
Mr Mansour Dieng, the Publication Director of Icone told the local media: "When we published the story (of the gay marriage) in a previous issue, we were treated as liars and accused of fabricating the story, we have decided to publish the photos to give the public an evidence of what we reported".
Death threats
Mr Dieng claimed to have received death threats following the publication of the pictures which show a group of dressed up and happy males.
Mr Dieng has since reported to police about the death threats.
In the pictures, one of the suspects appears to be putting a ring on his partner's finger. The alleged gay marriage was between a young Senegalese national and another West African citizen, believed to have gone into hiding since the affair was made public.
With the police not making any official and public statement on the matter, the exact nationality of the runaway suspect is the subject of contradicting reports, some saying he is a Ghanaian national while others identify him as an Ivorian.
Due to the same silent attitude from the police, it was also difficult to clearly establish if the arrests were linked to the celebration of the marriage, to the death threats or to both.
According to l'Observateur, a private daily, same sex marriages are not allowed by Senegalese law.
The newspaper quoted a lawyer as saying "any offender faces up to five years in prison and FCFA 1.5 million fine (US $ 3.600)" fine.
In Senegal, a nation where Muslims represent more than 95 per cent of the population, homosexuality has always been a marginal, sensitive and highly taboo affair.
Though, the phenomenon is known and has always existed, it is totally rejected as contrary to morality and religion.
One pro-Islamic NGO, Jamra has issued a statement denouncing the threats against Mr Dieng, the publication director.
But, the NGO also warned the country against the development of "sexual depravation, caused by the greed for easy money and which threatens the country's youth".
The "Goorjigeen" (the name for biologically effeminate people) did exist in Senegalese traditional societies where they were somehow tolerated but not respected nor given any right to exhibit their sexual preferences. They were rather considered as really marginal human beings.
According to popular belief many of the homosexuals who voluntarily engage in same sex practices in the big cities adhere to this way of life simply to make money, and the practices itself is at times easily confused with prostitution.
In local websites and newspapers many people are expressing outrage and shock, saying these "foreign" practices should not be allowed to prosper in the country, while others denounce the hypocrisy of a society which has no courage to face itself.
Last year a group of young female dancers, including Ndèye Guèye considered as one of the top dancers in the country, were arrested and tried for featuring in a video showing suggestive dance moves.
The video was dubbed indecent and compared to pornography by some people.
At the trial, all dancers were released and put "under probation" but the organisers of the private party and the owner of the club where it took place and where the video was shot were sentenced to prison terms.
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