Burkina Faso Enacts Law Banning Homosexuality, Imposing Prison Terms and Fines
Burkina Faso's parliament unanimously approved a new law outlawing homosexuality, imposing prison sentences and fines on offenders, citing support for family values.
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Overview
- Burkina Faso's parliament unanimously approved an amended family code, officially outlawing homosexuality and LGBTQ practices within the country.
- The new legislation imposes severe penalties, with individuals found guilty of homosexual acts facing two- to five-year prison sentences and fines.
- Burkina Faso's Justice Minister described homosexual acts as 'bizarre behavior,' while officials emphasized the law's support for 'marriage and family values.'
- This move places Burkina Faso among over half of African nations with similar anti-LGBTQ legislation, reflecting a broader regional trend.
- Rights activists are expected to criticize the law, seeing it as part of a wider human rights crackdown by the military government that seized power in 2022.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally, presenting the facts of Burkina Faso's new anti-homosexuality law without editorializing. They attribute all opinions and criticisms to specific individuals or groups, providing a balanced overview of the situation, including local popularity and international criticism, without taking a stance.
"The new law goes into effect immediately with individuals in same-sex relationships risking prison sentences as well as fines, Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala said during a briefing broadcast by the state TV."
Associated PressArticles (4)
FAQ
Individuals found guilty of homosexual acts face prison sentences of two to five years and fines under the new law in Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso joins over half of Africa's 54 countries that have laws banning homosexuality, with penalties ranging from several years in prison to the death penalty in some countries, reflecting a broader regional trend.
The law was passed by a military junta that seized power in 2022, amid ongoing security crises and human rights concerns, including crackdown on dissent and civil rights.
Rights groups have criticized the law as part of a wider human rights crackdown by the military government that includes rampant arrests and conscription of critics.
Officials have justified the law by emphasizing support for 'marriage and family values' and describing homosexual acts as 'bizarre behavior' imported from abroad.
History
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