Police in Tanzania have reportedly arrested 10 men accused of allegedly attending a same-sex marriage ceremony.
The arrest took place on Saturday in the Island of Zanzibar. It happened amid fears of a major crackdown on homosexuals in the East African country.
Those arrested have been detained at the Chakwa police station in Unguja in the Zanzibar, Amnesty International says.
According to rights group, six men who were at this event escaped. The rights group has condemned the arrest.
Amnesty’s East Africa Deputy Director Seif Magango says “This is a shocking blow following the Tanzanian government’s assurance that no one would be targeted and arrested because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.
This appalling attack on Tanzanian people simply exercising their human rights shows the danger of inflammatory and discriminatory rhetoric at senior levels of government.
We now fear these men may be subjected to forced anal examination, the government’s method of choice for ‘proving’ same-sex sexual activity among men. This must not be allowed to happen – these men must be released immediately.”
Tanzania this week denied reports that it intends cracking down on gays by arresting suspects.
The governor of Dar es Salaam, Paul Makonda told reporters last week that rounding up of gays will take place.
There are concerns among foreigners living in the country that they could be targeted by officials.
Homosexual acts are illegal in Tanzania, just like in many African countries.
Source: Africafeeds.com
