Two Alleged Homosexuals Arrested

Pere Joan, 56, and Juan Monpserratrusau, 54, held at Kotu police station, allegedly approached two taxi drivers (names withheld) and made proposals to them.

Our sources said the drivers acted quickly but secretly by immediately alerting the police, while putting up a show of interest in the advances of the culprits who were lured to a rendezvous in Manjai, where they were subsequently arrested.

Homosexuality is considered to be a taboo in The Gambia and the arrest of the two comes against the backdrop of the pronouncements of President Jammeh on 15thMay 2008, during his recent Dialogue with the People tour in which he seriously condemned homosexuality as a menace in the country, and issued an ultimatum for any homosexuals in the country to leave within 24 hours.

He is on record to have said that The Gambia is a country of believers, and that such sinful and immoral practices as homosexuality would not be tolerated in this country. "In The Gambia, homosexuality is considered as a taboo," he emphasised.

He had declared that he would "cut off the head" of any homosexual found in this country. He also said that a legislation will be introduced very soon that would be "stricter than those in Iran," with regards to such relationships.

The Gambian leader on that day gave orders that from then on, any hotel or lodge that knowingly houses a homosexual would be closed; and if such persons are found in any compound, the landlord would be in deep trouble.