Tunisia: 22 year old man gang rape victim jailed for sodomy

A 22 year old man gang raped in Tunisia has been sentenced to 6 months jail for sodomy. He was also sentenced for two months for “slanderous denunciations” The court allegedly found that it was not a rape but a dispute following sexual intercourse.

Charges were laid after the 22 year old man went to the local police for help. The police took him to the local hospital for an invasive examination to see if he engaged regularly in sodomy – results were negative.

The police found no evidence that the victim engaged in same sex relations. Human Rights Watch reports that on February 11, the first instance court in Sfax will hand down its verdict on whether the young man is guilty of same-sex sexual relations under article 230 of the penal code, which carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. Meanwhile the young man’s rapists will walk free.

It’s claimed the victim was confronted with two attackers after arranging to meet one man via Facebook in January.

But during the meeting on January 2, the victim was raped and had his belongings stolen by the men, it’s reported.

In a statement, the Tunisian association Damj, which defends the rights of homosexuals, denounced this “kind of trial, which represents a flagrant violation of human rights and moral dignity.”