Two South Africans are reported to have been arrested in Tanzania for being gay.
It’s understood they are among 12 men alleged to have been detained in an on-going crackdown against homosexuality in the country. Gay sex is punishable by life imprisonment.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says they are still waiting for confirmation from the South African Embassy in Tanzania about the alleged arrests of the two South Africans.
It’s being reported that the two South Africans were nabbed after being presumed to be gay.
Tanzanian law forbids sexual relations between people of the same sex.
According to police, those arrests took place in a hotel where the group were undergoing training with an officially-registered international NGO, the Bridge Initiative, which works in AIDS awareness.
In February, Tanzania earned criticism notably from the United States after announcing the closure of several health centres specialising in AIDS prevention, alleging they were fronts for promoting homosexuality.
– By SABC
