Moral depravity, loss of social order, an act against nature: in Senegal, homosexuality arouses disapproval, fear and sometimes violence.

By Bineta Diagne, our correspondent in Dakar

Assane Seck is the imam (leader) at the mosque of the unit 17 in the suburbs of Dakar. He often preaches against homosexuals "to raise awareness" about this phenomenon. Holder of an MA in Islamic law, this imam strongly condemns homosexuality in Senegalese society, composed of 95% of Muslims living in a secular state: I regard homosexuality in Senegal very much contrary to the faith, the religion and the morals of over 95% of the population," says Seck.

"This phenomenon (homosexuality) is strongly opposed to in our society. It arouses the most complete condemnation since Islam, as he says, has quite a strict view on homosexuality. According to this religious leader, homosexuality threatens the Senegalese "social order".

European influence
Similar thoughts are held by the Islamic NGO Jamra. Its president, Bamar Gueye, denounces the homosexual lobbies from Europe, who would be behind the Senegalese homosexuals: He says that some people from other countries want to impose something that is not consistent with their religion or tradition, while he recognises that faith is a sensitive matter.

This Muslim says that he confidentially advises the few homosexuals who come to his organisation: "We tell them to comply with the rules of our sublime religion,” says Gueye. He emphasises that  they encourage them and do not force them.

More radical, Imam Assane Seck follows strictly what is in the Quran, which according to him, dictates to kill homosexuals to purify society.

Victims of evil
Another voice against homosexuals: the Church of Senegal. “The Christian faith rejects homosexuality,” says Father Léon Diouf, vicar at the Episcopal Cathedral of Dakar. Yet this Father preaches tolerance because he considers gays as victims of evil that should be protected from the movement of the crowd. (...) “It is the crowd that rejects this community,” he denounces.

A Senegalese activist at the African Meeting on Human Rights warns against the excesses of homophobia. “Opposing oneself against MSM (men who have sex with other men) does not warrant that we go dig up a homosexual, as was the case in Thiès last year. If you go this far, it means there is a problem in society,” he warns.

In February 2008, photos showing a gay ceremony published in local newspapers provoked an outcry and started a real man-hunt against homosexuals. “Since then, we are forced to hide,” says the executive secretary of a gay organisation, on condition of anonymity: “In the beginning, when our association was formed, we had difficulty in mobilizing the MSM because they had to leave their hiding.”