A new bill has been drafted in Zanzibar imposing stiffer penalties for homosexuality and lesbianism.

Deputy attorney general Omar Makungu said if enacted the new law would also ban same sex marriages. 

Under current laws, homosexuality is already illegal, but Mr Makungu says they want to stop the practice becoming an accepted part of Zanzibari culture. 

Correspondents say the number of homosexuals and lesbians is on the rise in the Indian Ocean Island. 


Life imprisonment 

"We have heard that same sex marriages have taken place here and we want to guard against this trend," Mr Makungu told the BBC Swahili service. 

He said they have also proposed a maximum life imprisonment sentence for anyone found guilty of sodomy. 

Known lesbians in Zanzibar now risk being jailed for seven years, according to the draft proposals. 

Zanzibar is a key tourist destination along the East African coast.

Comments

life imprisoment Written by Guest on 2005-07-05 12:34:08 as a Tanzanian citizen I'm very much offended by the law in Tanzania and what Mr Makungu said. :( :upset

Abdul. Written by Guest on 2005-07-21 16:50:26 Homosexuality is a part of Zanzibari culture and for Mr Makungu to propose life imprisonment is vile, unconstitutional and against human rights of gays and lesbians in the island. As a Tanzanian citizen, i'm also outraged!  :upset :upset :upset