Oxfam under attack in Senegal for defending LGBTI people

Religious and civil society leaders accuse the charity of promoting acts that 'violate the most sacred customs'

Members of the Islamic Front for the Defense of Ethic Values protest in Senegal in April 2009 about the release of nine gay men who were jailed for homosexuality. (Photo: MAXPPP)

Imams and ulemas in Senegal, accompanied by civil society associations, have strongly protested against Oxfam, accusing the British NGO of promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities. They equate the charity's actions and statements with "practices contrary to Islam."

Their anger follows an email that was sent by the charity and disclosed by one of its agents.

"On Friday, 28 June, at around 9 a.m., Oxfam International sent a joint email to all Oxfam agents entitled 'Love letter' in which it discusses the condition of LGBTI people in the organization and the need to promote them, give them positions of responsibility and strengthen their leadership in the countries of the south," the agent reports. "The letter ends with a threat to countries and agents who refuse solidarity with Oxfam's new vision [to make them] leave the organization."

In Senegal, where nearly 90 percent of the population practices the Muslim religion, these imams and ulemas promise to do everything possible to prevent the implementation of Oxfam's threat.

"We will not accept the development of such an agenda in this country. We have our own values and beliefs," warns Mouhamadou Kanté, the imam of the Point E mosque in Dakar.

"Today, if we accept how Oxfam operates, another NGO will do the same thing. In addition to Oxfam, other embassies based in Senegal also support this … but let them know that they will find us in their way."

'Unnatural relationships'

Based on the precepts of Islam, Oustaz Alioune Sall, a preacher and host of a local radio station, believes that "the demon is in unnatural relationships, cursed by God and his prophet. This is why preachers and Koranic masters will, in synergy, lead the fight against such practices in Senegal."

He calls on the Senegalese government, which has granted Oxfam the right to operate in the country, to take "sanctions and indomitable measures to fight this scourge."

Imam Oumar Sarr of the Ucad mosque reminds us that "God had to destroy a people because of this water contrary to our religion and beliefs."

These imams and ulemas demand "the immediate closure or expulsion of any NGO whose program includes the promotion of homosexuality."

Preserving values

The outrage is not confined to religious leaders. The And Samm Djikoyi (Preserving Values) group, which brings together 30 religious and civil society associations, has warned the state authorities about the recurrence of acts and statements aimed at "violating the sacredness of our religious beliefs, our customs and our most sacred beliefs."

At the beginning of July, while the controversy surrounding Oxfam's email was still brewing, a young Senegalese singer on stage wearing a T-shirt decorated with the LGBTI community flag was strongly criticized in the press and social media. He was also accused of promoting it.

Oxfam has rejected all criticisms of its stance, saying that "every human being, especially LGBTI and other minority people, has rights, recognized or not by law, that must be respected and protected."