Politics and Society
6 Tunisian students jailed for three years for homosexuality
In a case heavily criticised by rights groups, six Tunisian students were jailed for three years for homosexuality and banned from the city for five years. The students were detained after “neighbours denounced them” and were made to undergo forensic anal examination
Six students inTunisia were each sentenced to three years in jail, the maximum prison term, on charges of homosexuality and they were banned from the Tunisian city for five years after they complete their sentences.
Boutheina Karkni, the student’s lawyer told AFP that they were detained after “neighbours denounced them” and were made to undergo anal exams.
Karnki reportedly said there will be an appeal hearing.
The sentence is based on a controversial article of the criminal code that criminalises sex between men.
Members of rights group Shams are calling for decriminalisation of homosexuality in Tunisia Photo: Fethi Belaid/AFP
Human rights group Amnesty International criticised the ruling, calling for their “immediate and unconditional release”. Amnesty said the sentence is “a shocking example of deep-rooted state sanctioned discrimination against LGBTI people in the country”.
Said Boumedouha, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said, “The verdict against these men is absolutely shocking, especially at a time when rights groups in Tunisia are increasingly speaking out against the criminalization of same-sex sexual relations,”
“Nobody should be imprisoned based on their sexual orientation or sexual activity. This case highlights the entrenched levels of state homophobia in the country and how far Tunisia still has to go before LGBTI people can enjoy full sexual and gender identity rights,” Boumedouha said.
Rights group Human Rights Watch has previously denounced the use of forensic anal examinations of people suspected of homosexual activities saying, “such examinations are intrusive, invasive, and amount to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment that violates international law”.
Source: AFP
