Victim of brutal homophobic knife attack jailed
The man was beaten and stabbed in the street, but was jailed for ‘homosexual acts’.
A Moroccan court has convicted one man and is attempting to convict a second for homosexual acts, after the pair were attacked.
A group of youths broke into the home of one of the men, beat them, slashed them with a knife and dragged them naked onto the street.
However, it is the victims of this horrendous crime who face prison – just because they are gay.
The case attracted attention when a video clip appeared online, showing two men cowering naked, one of them covered in blood, being beaten and kicked.
The men are then dragged outside, while anti-gay slurs and “Call the authorities!” – apparently shouted by the assailants – can be heard in the background.
LGBT rights campaigners have criticised the courts decision to prosecute the men, claiming the move will only increase homophobic attacks.
“Beaten, bloodied, and pushed naked into the street, and then sent to prison for your private life,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director of Human Rights Campaign.
“This verdict will discourage victims from seeking justice and increase the likelihood of homophobic crimes.”
“The prosecution shows the determination of Moroccan authorities to enforce anti-homosexuality laws,” HRC added in a statement.
One of the men has already been convicted of “acts of sexual deviancy with a person of the same sex” and “public drunkenness”.
He was sentenced to four months in prison and a 500 dirham (US$52) fine and remains in prison. The man he slept with is awaiting his sentence.
The same court convicted two of the attackers for assault and sentenced them to a lesser sentence of suspended two-month sentences.
Moroccan law penalises acts of “sexual deviancy” between members of the same sex.
Gay sex is punishable by up to three years imprisonment and a fine.
In February, two Moroccan youths were jailed for one and a half years and fined 2,000 dirhams each on charges of homosexuality.
