Madagascar: controversy after the imprisonment of a young homosexual

Text by: RFI Follow

#FreeKen is the hashtag that goes around the Facebook social network in Madagascar. A hashtag to request the release of a young homosexual woman placed in pre-trial detention four days ago. Ken, 21, is charged with "misappropriation of a minor" because he was in a relationship with a 19-year-old young woman. In Madagascar, the penal code punishes with a penalty of two to five years of imprisonment, homosexual relations with a person under the age of 21.

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From our correspondent in Antananarivo , Laetitia Bezain

On Facebook, hundreds of photos of Malagasy people making an L with their fingers to request the release of Ken are parading. Homophobic comments are also widely present. For LGBT activists and their allies, the Malagasy law needs to be changed.

Johnatan Randrianary is LGBT manager within the Human Rights Madagascar association and member of the Ken support committee. “ You could say that she is in prison because she is homosexual. The law is there and says that for heterosexual people the sexual majority is 14 years old and for LGBT people is 21 years old. Besides, this law describes this type of relationship as "unnatural". So it's really discriminatory. This is why the committee decided to fight against this law since we talk a lot about the inclusion of several minorities but the LGBT issue is really sidelined. NGOs that fight for human rights, for personal convictions or simply out of fear because it is still a very hot topic in Madagascar, do not prefer to comment on the subject. Fortunately, however, the movement was launched and it was able to bring together several activists and NGOs who are fighting in this direction. There is a collective awareness even if public opinion is very divided on the subject . "

At the origin of the complaint for embezzlement of a minor: the mother of his girlfriend. Fifaliana, 19 years old. " My mom just said she saw us kissing but she has no evidence. The judge told us that there is a law against that. But we never had sex. We love each other, that's all. I received a lot of threatening messages saying that we were going to be killed because we are gay. It is not for our homosexuality but for the liberation of the person who has always supported me in my life that I am fighting. "

Two-tier justice all the more blatant for the latter since she explains that she was raped for 10 years by her father without her mother, who was aware of the situation, being convicted of complicity. Ken's trial is scheduled for April 10.

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• Madagascar
• Social issues
• Womens rights