Two South Africans arrested in Tanzania for homosexuality

A riot policeman holds a detained protester in Zanzibar October 19, 2012. Muslim protesters clashed with police in the Tanzanian capital and the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar on Friday, raising religious tensions in the secular east African country.REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic (TANZANIA - Tags: CIVIL UNREST) - RTR39BTO

TANZANIA – Two South Africans were amongst the 12 men who were arrested for presumed homosexuality in Tanzania, police said on Wednesday.

Tanzania is one of the very strict African countries that forbids gay sex, with offenders punishable with nothing less than 30 years.

Speaking at a weekly press conference, Dar es Salaam police head Lazaro Mambosasa says police arrested the men when they were promoting homosexuality at a local hotel.

He confirmed that amongst the 12 men arrested, nine are Tanzanians, two South Africans and one Ugandan.

Mambosasa made it clear that homosexuality in the country is a criminal offense and those practicing it deserves the full might of the law.

“Tanzanian law forbids this act between people of the same sex, it is a violation of our country’s laws,” he said.

Mambosasa also added that the police also arrested the hotel manager for “providing a room” for the men to continue their filthy work.

Mambosasa has also urged all Tanzanian citizens to notify authorities and bring all those “criminals” engaged in same sex relationships to justice.

The men are set to appear in court at a date yet to be set where their verdict will be decided.

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