Niger has arrested at least 16 people after introducing prison sentences and fines for same-sex sexual acts, a judicial source told Reuters. The source said that high-ranking officials working for customs and police forces as well as several civilians had been arrested.
The official gazette dated March 27 says that sexual relations with a person of the same sex are punishable by prison terms of five to 10 years and fines of 10 million to 100 million CFA francs ($18,000 to $180,000). People found to be in a same-sex marriage could receive prison sentences of 10 to 20 years.
People operating LGBTQ organisations will be fined 50 million to 500 million CFA francs, the document says. A government spokesperson did not reply to a request for comment.
West African countries including Senegal and Burkina Faso have passed anti-LGBTQ legislation in recent months. In Niger, the law previously banned same-sex marriage but did not include penalties for same-sex relations.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
