Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09DAKAR59, Gay Men Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09DAKAR59.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09DAKAR59 2009-01-15 16:18 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Dakar
VZCZCXRO7896
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDK #0059/01 0151618
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151618Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1706
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 000059 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/EPS, AF/RSA, DRL 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREF PGOV SG
SUBJECT: Gay Men Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  Nine gay men - several of whom were known 
anti-AIDS activists - were sentenced to eight years in prison for 
criminal conspiracy and committing "unnatural acts."  The sentence 
is unusually harsh and has produced outrage among Senegalese human 
rights NGOs and AIDS activists, as well international gay rights 
organizations.  The government of France has formally condemned the 
convictions and sentences and called for the release of the men and 
the decriminalization ofQomosexualiQ.  The men's attorneys have 
appealed the conviction and are working with civil society to obtain 
their release.  End summary. 
 
Home of Gay Anti-AIDS Activist Raided by Police 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
2. (SBU) On December 19, 2008, Senegalese police raided the 
apartment of prominent homosexual and anti-AIDS activist M. Diadji 
Diouf in a suburb of Dakar.  Diouf heads the association AIDES 
Senegal, an organization that provides HIV prevention services to 
homosexual men.  It is a local partner organization of the 
international public health NGO Family Health International (FHI), 
which is implementing a USAID-funded HIV project in Senegal.  Police 
arrested Diouf and his guests who were in his apartment for a 
meeting to share information on AIDS prevention efforts in Senegal's 
gay community.  Police charged Diouf with possession of pornographic 
material and paraphernalia.  According to human rights activists, 
the material in question was for AIDS prevention and included items 
such as condoms and dildos.  In addition, police also confiscated 
Diouf's mobile phone, saying it contained pornographic photos.  At 
the time of the raid, Diouf and his friend M. Ba were arrested.  The 
rest of the group, who had visited Diouf's home for HIV/AIDS 
counseling, were arrested later on. 
 
Gay Men Charged with Criminal Conspiracy 
---------------------------------------- 
 
3.  (U) On January 6, 2009, the nine men were judged and convicted 
of criminal conspiracy and engaging in "unnatural acts" and 
sentenced to eight years in jail and a fine of CFA 500,000 
(approximately USD 1,000) each.  While the prosecutor in this case 
asked for the maximum sentence for such a crime in Senegal of five 
years, the judge added three years to the sentence stating that the 
homosexual men were also members of a criminal group.  Under Article 
319 of the Senegalese penal code, homosexual acts are punishable by 
imprisonment of one to five years and a fine of CFA 100,000 (USD 
200) to CFA 1,500,000 (USD 3,000). 
 
Attorneys Shocked by Severity of Sentence 
----------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (SBU) At the time of the arrest, only one of the accused, a 
student, had an attorney (paid for by his father).  After their case 
received attention in the media, four attorneys, paid for by ENDA 
Sante, a branch of the Dakar-based international NGO Environment and 
Development Action in the Third World (ENDA-TM), took on the case. 
At the start of the trial, the attorneys did not consider the 
charges against their clients to be serious and were shocked by the 
severity of the penalty imposed by the judge.  The lawyers believe 
that by entering Diouf's apartment, the police violated his right to 
privacy.  Moreover, they have expressed concern for what they 
believe to be violations of their clients' right to a free and fair 
trial and the right to freedom from discrimination.  On January 12, 
the attorneys filed for appeal.  While their appeal is pending, they 
are working closely with civil society and human rights 
organizations to seek the release of the nine men, as well as to 
find ways to protect gays in Senegal. 
 
Civil Society Working Toward Release of Men 
------------------------------------------- 
 
5.  (SBU) On January 13, ENDA Sant organized a meeting with 
Senegalese AIDS activists, international partners, and other 
representatives of civil society to discuss what could be done to 
bring about the release of the men.   Representatives from local and 
international anti-AIDS, public health and human rights NGOs, 
UNAIDS, UNDP, the European Commission, as well as representatives 
from the U.S., French, and Swedish embassies attended the meeting. 
 
6.  (SBU) Representatives from Enda Sant also met with officials 
from the Ministries of Health, Interior, and Justice to discuss the 
release of the men and also find solutions for the protection of the 
Senegalese gay community.  Enda Sant continues to visit the nine 
men in prison and to provide them with food, and has received 
assurances from prison officials that the men will be safe during 
their incarceration. 
 
 
Arrests Provoke International Outrage 
------------------------------------ 
 
 
DAKAR 00000059  002 OF 002 
 
 
7.  (U) The gay rights NGO International Gay and Lesbian Human 
Rights Commission (IGLHRC) said it was "shocked by the ruling."  On 
January 14, French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed concern over 
the ruling.  The French government has officially requested their 
release and pleaded for the decriminalization of homosexuality in 
Senegal. 
 
Homophobia on the Rise 
---------------------- 
 
8.  (SBU) While gay men are occasionally arrested and prosecuted, 
traditionally social stigma and blackmail are the most prevalent 
forms of abuse faced by homosexuals.  However, anti-gay sentiment 
has been on the rise across West Africa in recent years.  Although 
Senegal has a reputation for religious tolerance, international 
human rights organizations have expressed concern recently over the 
apparent rise of homophobia in the country.  In February 2008, a 
group of men were arrested after a magazine printed photographs of 
what purported to be a gay wedding.  The magazine editor received 
death threats and one of the men sought and received asylum in the 
United States.  Representatives from the African Council of AIDS 
Service Organizations (AfriCASO), told EmbOffs that while conducting 
an AIDS education program recently in a Dakar suburb some people 
threw rocks at them, ostensibly in protest against homosexuality. 
 
Creeping Religious Conservatism 
------------------------------- 
 
9. (SBU) Comment: While homophobia is reportedly on the rise 
throughout West Africa, it is not clear why it is appears to be on 
the rise in Senegal in particular.  In spite of being more than 90 
percent Muslim, Senegal does not have a history of actively 
persecuting homosexuals.  The particular form of Islam practiced 
here has always been noted for being more tolerant than the forms of 
Islam found in the Arabian peninsula and Gulf countries.  However, 
the country has seen religion and religious leaders take on more 
prominent roles in politics since President Abdoulaye Wade was 
elected in 2000.  Wade broke with 40 years of tradition by 
ostentatiously declaring his membership in the Mourides Muslim 
brotherhood and actively courted the approval and public support of 
the brotherhood's caliph-general.  During the drafting of a new 
constitution, he attempted to have the description of Senegal as a 
secular country removed. 
 
10.  (SBU) In another recent break with the country's tradition of 
tolerance, in 2008 prosecutors arrested and indicted a young woman 
for obscenity for risqu dancing in a night club after a video of 
the dancer and her colleagues became popular on the streets of 
Dakar.  These incidents coincide with a slow but perceptible 
increase in the number of women wearing traditional Islamic scarves 
and the small but increasing presence of Muslim fundamentalists.  It 
remains too early to say with any certainty, but the arrest and 
sentencing of these men could be indicative of growing religious 
conservatism in Senegal.  End comment. 
BERNICAT