Morocco sentences 70-year-old British tourist in jail for being gay

[webfact]

Morocco sentences gay tourist to four months in prison

MOROCCO: -- A 70-year-old British tourist is in jail in Morocco for being gay, news reports said Sunday.

Ray Cole was arrested with a local man at a bus stop in Marrakesh last month, and was sentenced to four months on Thursday, according to the KentOnline website. Speaking in Deal in southern England, Adrian Cole said his father was sleeping on the concrete floor of a cell he shared with up to 60 other prisoners.

"The prison doesn't segregate so he's sharing with murderers, rapists, paedophiles," Cole said. "The trial was a complete farce," he said. "They've gone through his phone and found photographs that they're using as evidence for a homosexual act."

Charlie Elphicke, the local member of parliament for Deal, said the imprisonment showed tourists were not safe in Morocco. "I've been doing all I can to help free Mr Cole from these appalling charges," he said. "I'm deeply concerned about his safety and it's clear that if you visit Morocco you're at serious risk of facing trumped up charges for medieval crimes."

Full story: http://www.eturbonews.com/51138/morocco-sentences-gay-tourist-four-months-prison

-- eTN 2014-10-06

[MrJohnson]

Another case of religious bigotry. Arghhhhhhhhhhh.

[NeverSure]

Another case of religious bigotry. Arghhhhhhhhhhh.

Why don't you tell the whole truth? The official religion of Morocco is Sunni Muslim.

[RottingCorpse]

Morocco used to be a haven for gay men in the 1960s and 1970s. Kenneth Williams paints a very graphic picture of the scene there in his diaries. Whatever next? They'll be busting people for smoking weed there next.....

Edited October 6, 2014 by RottingCorpse

[Prbkk]

Good luck to the old bugger (no disrespect intended) and I hope he's out soon. Disgraceful that this happens in C21st.

[simple1]

The guy's Morrocan partner, who he met via online dating, was also jailed for four months. Should have been more careful as in its advice to travellers, the Foreign Office warns that homosexuality is a criminal offence in Morocco.

[neverdie]

The guy's Morrocan partner, who he met via online dating, was also jailed for four months. Should have been more careful as in its advice to travellers, the Foreign Office warns that homosexuality is a criminal offence in Morocco.

One needs to be very careful when one ventures outside ones nanny state.

Sad state of affairs indeed.

[KarenBravo]

Yet, like most Arab countries, young, male teenagers bugger each other silly because girls are unavailable.

They call it Sex Practice.

[jacky54]

The guy's Morrocan partner, who he met via online dating, was also jailed for four months. Should have been more careful as in its advice to travellers, the Foreign Office warns that homosexuality is a criminal offence in Morocco.

So what, that does not make it right or acceptable. Is there any Islamic state where homosexuality is lawful or tolerated? funny I thought it was a religion of 'tolerance' must have been mis informed! the prophet of course used to dress up in womens clothes, but that;s OK I guess

Edited October 6, 2014 by jacky54

[Jingthing]

Gay sex is legal in Turkey but gay people face severe homophobia. Sodomy is illegal in Malysia. Two examples of more tolerant Islamic nations (in general). Most are worse, often much worse. Yes this is a major human rights issue in Islamic dominated nations.

Edited October 6, 2014 by Jingthing

[KarenBravo]

Gay sex is legal in Turkey. Sodomy is illegal in Malysia. Two examples of more tolerant Islamic nations (in general).

Both Non-Arab.......

[jacky54]

Why was the former PM of malaysia taken to court for sodomy then

[Jingthing]

Why was the former PM of malaysia taken to court for sodomy then

Didn't you read what I said? Sodomy is indeed ILLEGAL in Malaysia.

In fairness, global anti-gay laws are of course not only Islam related. A lot are related to the colonial British laws and homophobia left as artifacts of the British empire.

Not to mention notoriously anti-gay Putin's RUSSIA where being gay and being a pedo are largely seen by the public as the SAME THING.

Edited October 6, 2014 by Jingthing

[jacky54]

sorry chang time

[sfokevin]

Such sad hipocracy since the King of Morroco is gay...

[simple1]

The guy's Morrocan partner, who he met via online dating, was also jailed for four months. Should have been more careful as in its advice to travellers, the Foreign Office warns that homosexuality is a criminal offence in Morocco.

So what, that does not make it right or acceptable. Is there any Islamic state where homosexuality is lawful or tolerated? funny I thought it was a religion of 'tolerance' must have been mis informed! the prophet of course used to dress up in womens clothes, but that;s OK I guess

Is it right or acceptable that in some countries you can receive jail sentences for grass. It is what it is, against the law, don't want to expose yourself to jail, don't do it.

Homosexuality is both legal and tolerated in Lebanon and other states in the Levant, like Palestine, Jordan, and Syria. In 20 out of 57 Muslim-majority nations same-sex intercourse is not forbidden by law. In Albania there have been discussions about legalizing same-sex marriage. Death sentence or long prison terms in some Islamic countries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_in_Islam#Legal_status_in_nations

[Jingthing]

Gay sex is legal in the west bank.

ILLEGAL in Hamas controlled West Bank.

In both places, no legal protections for gays.

You can't compare to pot. That's a choice. Being gay is what people ARE.

[ChiangMaiFalung]

What is the latest on Anwar (Former Malaysian politician) the guy that went to jail. Anyone know?

[Scott]

What is the latest on Anwar (Former Malaysian politician) the guy that went to jail. Anyone know?

Let's stick to this topic for the time being.

[simple1]

Gay sex is legal in the west bank.

ILLEGAL in Hamas controlled West Bank.

In both places, no legal protections for gays.

You can't compare to pot. That's a choice. Being gay is what people ARE.

fair enough, though for a number of years in my life grass was essential for pleasure.

Edited October 6, 2014 by simple1

[jacky54]

As usual somebody is diverting from the topic which is not about drug mis use but the freedom to practice ones sexuality. So thanks for simple1 for pointing out that about half of islamic states forbids homosexuality, according to him. What about transgenders like Mohamed?

Edited October 6, 2014 by jacky54

[giddyup]

As usual somebody is diverting from the topic which is not about drug mis use but the freedom to practice ones sexuality. So thanks for simple1 for pointing out that the majority of islamic states forbids homosexuality.

...and yet it's probably practiced more frequently in muslim countries than anywhere else. What else are young men going to do if sex with a female out of marriage is punishable by death? I guess board a plane from Pakistan to Pattaya might be one solution.

[ChiangMaiFalung]

What is the latest on Anwar (Former Malaysian politician) the guy that went to jail. Anyone know?

Let's stick to this topic for the time being.

I thought I was on topic. Anwar is Muslim, and accused of a homo sexual act. Does my comment have to be on Morrocco?

[Scott]

Anwar is not the topic of this thread.

[thaibeachlovers]

Gay sex is legal in the west bank.

ILLEGAL in Hamas controlled West Bank.

In both places, no legal protections for gays.

You can't compare to pot. That's a choice. Being gay is what people ARE.

So what? Just because you are homosexual it does not give you the right to break the law in a foreign country. If you don't like the law in Morroco, don't go there.

[jacky54]

Gay sex is legal in the west bank.

ILLEGAL in Hamas controlled West Bank.

In both places, no legal protections for gays.

You can't compare to pot. That's a choice. Being gay is what people ARE.

fair enough, though for a number of years in my life grass was essential for pleasure.

I'm sure many other have a similar past on here and not trying to be funny but admitting a past criminal history of drug use on a Thai based forum is not a good idea. I would get it deleted ASAP.

[belg]

morocco, thailand

so much in common

[Jingthing]

Gay sex is legal in the west bank.

ILLEGAL in Hamas controlled West Bank.

In both places, no legal protections for gays.

You can't compare to pot. That's a choice. Being gay is what people ARE.

So what? Just because you are homosexual it does not give you the right to break the law in a foreign country. If you don't like the law in Morroco, don't go there.

Of course I meant to say Hamas controlled GAZA, not West Bank.

So what? Again, it's a human rights issue.

[ezzra]

So now what? like in jail he's not going to be gay? really ??? didn't think that through

Moroccan judges huh?

[darren84310]

Locked up with all those men.... dreadful for the poor gay