Two men jailed for gay sex in Morocco

It’s been reported that two men have been sent to jail for three years for engaging in “homosexual practices.”

According to Pink News, the local men were sentenced on 23 December after they were caught having sex on 13 December.

Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Morocco with penalties ranging from six months to three years in jail, as well as fines.

In October, a retired British tourist, Ray Cole, and a Moroccan man were jailed for being gay. They were sentenced to four months in a Marrakesh prison.

Following international outrage, Cole was released and sent back to the UK. It is believed that the Moroccan man was also freed.

Morocco had a reputation for being friendly towards gay tourists, but the incident has shattered the illusion. There were reports that interest in travelling to the region from the UK had slumped by 31% following news of the men’s ordeal.

In July, a Moroccan appeals court upheld the convictions of four men accused of homosexual acts but reduced their three-year prison sentence.