ANTI-GAY RIOTS IN SENEGAL

Anti-gay protestors have rioted in Senegal after a group of men accused of taking part in a same-sex wedding were released from prison.

While the authorities had originally given permission for the demonstration, outside Dakar’s principle Mosque, this was later revoked and police used teargas to disperse several hundred protestors after they apparently started throwing stones.

Chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is great), the crowd went on to block roads, burn rubbish and clash further with police, reported Reuters.

The demonstration was organised by an Islamic group which has demanded that all homosexuals be rounded up and jailed.

Earlier this month, up to twenty men were arrested for allegedly attending the wedding, which took place over a year ago. The men were arrested after pictures of the wedding were published in the local Icone magazine.

Five men were released last week, but it remains unclear how many remain in jail. The police have refused to confirm how many men may still be in prison on the charges.

The authorities have said that while the five men have been released the charges against them have not been dropped, and police will continue with their investigation.

Homosexual acts are punishable by imprisonment of between one and five years and a fine of 100,000 ($200) to 1,500,000 ($3,000) CFA francs in Senegal.