President
Adama Barrow has said that homosexuality is not an issue in The Gambia, an act
that will send one to prison for life in the country.
Barrow
made this remark during his meeting with the European Union (EU) delegates on
Thursday at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
“Among
those who can be charged with “aggravated homosexuality” are “serial offenders”
and people living with HIV who are deemed to be gay or lesbian.
Rights
groups say it makes Gambia’s criminalisation of homosexual activity - which
already violates international law - even more likely to be used broadly and
arbitrarily.
The
EU withheld more than 33 million euros in aid to The Gambia over the
deteriorating human rights conditions and concerns over the targeting of the
LGBT community.
An
act of homosexuality already carries a minimum 14 years in prison.
Barrow
said homosexuality has never been an issue in The Gambia, and that there are
economic and other social issues that are more of a priority.
Former
President Yahya Jammeh said homosexuality is anti-God, anti-human, and
anti-civilization. He called homosexuals vermin and threatened to slit their
throat.
