On May 13, 2016 Gay Star News reported: Germany has declared three homophobic North African countries to be safe, making it nearly impossible to claim asylum when fleeing from them.

The government announced today (13 May) they would, from now on, consider the so-called Maghreb states of Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco to be safe countries of origin.

‘Helping also means being able to say no,’ Germany’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thomas de Maziere, told BILD.

Under German federal law, this means asylum seekers from these countries will see their applications rejected as ‘manifestly unfounded’ unless they produce facts or evidence proving they face persecution in their home country.

‘For a state to be declared a safe country of origin, there has to be nationwide safety from political persecution for all citizens and demographic groups,’ a ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court states.

Homosexuality is illegal in all three countries and can be punished with prison sentences of up to three years. In Morocco, anyone found guilty also faces a fine of 120($18.25) – 1200 dirham ($124.38).

In Algeria, the maximum sentence is two years also a fine of 500 ($4.56) – 2000 dinars ($18.25), but it increases to three years in prison and a fine of 10,000 dinars ($91.28) if one of the partners is under 18.

The government’s decision was met with protests from both the opposition as well as LGBTI organizations.

Read more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/germany-declares-three-countries-criminalize-gay-sex-safe-gay-asylum-seekers/#gs.S542gGQ