A disturbing incident in Senegal has sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ+ community and human rights advocates worldwide. In the city of Kaolack, a video depicting the exhumation and burning of a gay man’s body has ignited outrage and condemnation. The horrifying act, which occurred last week, has raised concerns about the deeply rooted homophobia in Senegal.
The video, widely circulated on social and local media, shows a group of onlookers surrounding a large fire, capturing the grim scene on their phones. While the exact motive behind this heinous act remains unconfirmed, speculation suggests that it may have been driven by the victim’s sexual orientation. Homosexual acts in Senegal are categorized as “against nature” and are punishable by imprisonment.
In response to the “barbarity” of the incident, the judiciary swiftly initiated an investigation to identify and punish the perpetrators. Four individuals suspected of orchestrating the desecration were arrested in Kaolack, as reported by an anonymous local police official. This disturbing event harks back to a dark period from 2008 to 2009 when Senegal witnessed rare cases of body exhumation related to alleged homosexuality.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International Senegal, have vehemently condemned the incident for violating the dignity of the deceased and his family. Senegal’s LGBTQ+ community has long endured a hostile environment, with many individuals forced to hide their identities or seek asylum abroad to escape persecution. In 2021, the majority of Senegalese asylum applications in France cited persecution based on sexual orientation.
The deceased’s family faced obstacles when attempting to bury him in Senegal’s holy city of Touba due to allegations of his homosexuality. Eventually, they laid him to rest near his home in Kaolack amid objections from the local community. Prominent religious leader Serigne Cheikh Tidiane Khalifa Niasse denounced the act, while a representative from the group “And Samm Jikko Yi” blamed the Senegalese state for appearing to overprotect the LGBTQ+ community, leading to acts of mob justice. This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Senegal and the urgent need for greater acceptance and protection.