Ivory Coast: No anti-gay law, but 3 months in prison anyway |

On Jan 29, 2017 76 Crimes reported: Two gay men in relatively tolerant Ivory Coast served a three-month sentence in a rural prison despite the fact that the country has no anti-gay law. The situation highlights the limitations of city-based LGBT rights activism in Ivory Coast and elsewhere in Africa, journalist Robbie Corey-Boulet writes in The Guardian.

Activists say if indecency law was applied it would be first known instance of it being used to jail gay people

Authorities in the Ivory Coast have refused to explain why two gay men were arrested and jailed in a country that does not criminalise same-sex acts, and is widely regarded as a beacon of tolerance for sexual minorities.

Yann, 31, and Abdoul, 19, are openly gay but deny any romantic relationship. They were arrested in October in a village in southwestern Ivory Coast, apparently for “public indecency”.

Though prosecutors have declined to confirm the charge against them, activists say if the indecency law was used it would be the first known instance of the provision being used to jail gay people in the country.