Manon Aubry condemns escalating anti-LGBTQ+ persecution in Senegal

French MEP Manon Aubry has sharply criticized the intensifying crackdown on LGBTQ+ individuals in Senegal, urging urgent intervention from Paris to protect those at risk and condemn what she terms state-sanctioned persecution.

French politician decries Senegal’s homophobic legal framework

Manon Aubry, Left Front MEP and chair of the European Parliament’s Left Group, has publicly condemned Senegal’s enforcement of laws targeting LGBTQ+ individuals. Recent cases involving prosecutions under provisions against “unnatural acts” and alleged HIV transmission have drawn sharp criticism from the French lawmaker.

“Homosexuality is not a crime. In Senegal, a deeply discriminatory law now imposes sentences of five to ten years in prison for same-sex relations. I stand unequivocally against this persecution and stand in full solidarity with those targeted by this wave of homophobia.”

Demand for French diplomatic action

Aubry has also called for immediate action to secure the release of a French national detained in connection with these prosecutions. She emphasized the moral and legal obligation of France to intervene diplomatically and grant asylum to Senegalese refugees fleeing persecution based on sexual orientation.

Her statements underscore a growing international concern over the erosion of human rights protections in Senegal and highlight the urgent need for cross-border cooperation to safeguard vulnerable communities.