Briton jailed in Morocco for "homosexual acts"

Updated
british man jailed in morocco under homosexual acts
british man jailed in morocco under homosexual acts



A gay man from Kent has been jailed in Morocco for committing "homosexual acts".

Ray Cole, 69, was reportedly arrested and sentenced to four months in prison, Pink News reports.

The retired magazine publisher, from Deal, was on holiday in Marrakech, where he was visiting Moroccan man Jamal Jam Wald Nass.

According to the gay news service, the pair were approached by police officers at a bus stop and detained for suspected homosexuality.

Mr Cole's family told Pink News that authorities in the Muslim country failed to contact them when he was arrested on 18 September.

His son Adrian said: "The trial was a complete farce.

"They've gone through his phone and found photographs that they're using as evidence for a homosexual act."

Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke called for tourists to boycott Morocco and said he was trying to help Mr Cole.

"I urge people not to visit Morocco" he said. "If you go there you are at serious risk of facing trumped up charges for medieval crimes."

The Foreign Office states: "Homosexuality is a criminal offence in Morocco. Sexual relations outside marriage are also punishable by law. It is not uncommon for hotels to ask couples to show evidence of marriage at the time of check-in, and if such evidence is not available, to insist on separate rooms."

According to the BBC, a Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We can confirm the detention of a British national in Morocco.

"We are providing consular assistance."

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