Morocco court releases 2 men convicted of homosexuality

Moroccan protesters living in the neighborhood where two men presumed to be homosexual have been assaulted last month, demonstrate against homosexuality and in support of family members who are on trial in connection with the assault, on April 11, 2016, outside the court in the central city of Beni Mellal.
The trial reopened in central Morocco of a homosexual and three men who allegedly attacked him, as two topless Femen activists were detained while demanding that Rabat decriminalize homosexuality. AFP PHOTO

BENI MELLAL, Morocco—A Moroccan court on Monday released two men convicted of homosexuality — which normally carries a jail sentence in the kingdom — in a case that stirred emotions throughout the country.

The court also jailed two men convicted of attacking the couple, while outside two topless Femen activists from France were detained and deported after protesting for Rabat to decriminalize homosexuality.

Residents of the town of Beni Mellal in central Morocco, meanwhile, gathered to demand the release of the jailed attackers.

The trial centered on an alleged assault of two homosexual men by a group of individuals in an apartment in Beni Mellal last month.

A video of the alleged attack appeared on YouTube, showing two half naked men with bloodied faces being attacked and dragged into the street.

A first victim was sentenced to four months in jail for “acts against nature”, but an appeal hearing decided Monday to release him on time served.

The other victim was handed a four-month suspended sentence for “sexual deviancy”.

For the attack on the couple, one defendant was handed a six-month prison sentence and another received four months for forced entry, resorting to violence and carrying weapons.

Two others were acquitted and a fifth was to be tried later in a minors’ court.

Rights organizations have demanded that Morocco decriminalize homosexuality, which is punishable by up to three years in jail.

Last August, a court in Rabat sentenced two men to four months in prison for beating up a presumed homosexual because of his appearance.

The men were arrested after websites posted a video of the victim trying in vain to take shelter in a taxi to escape a crowd.

And in another incident in a string of controversies over homosexuality, two men were jailed for four months in June for kissing in public in the capital.