Four LGBT rights activists in the island nation of Mauritius off the east coast of Africa are taking legal action against that country's anti-gay law.
Four LGBT rights activists in the island nation of Mauritius off the east coast of Africa are taking legal action against that country’s anti-gay law.
Location of Mauritius east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. (Map courtesy of Google and MauritiusInsideOut.com)
The legal action builds on previous proposals for dismantling the nation’s anti-sodomy law. The Mauritius Law Reform Commission, for example, recommended 12 years ago that the law should be repealed.
Section 250 of the Mauritius Criminal Code provides a five-year sentence for same-sex intimacy. Separately, however, the nation’s Equal Opportunities Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
This is the press release from the Young Queer Alliance announcing the constitutional challenge:
Young Queer Alliance logo
17th September 2019, Port Louis, Mauritius
Four Mauritians seek to establish equality and freedom under the law for LGBT persons before the Supreme Court of Mauritius to challenge the constitutionality of Section 250 criminalising sodomy.
On the 6th September 2019, four young Mauritians, who come from all parts of Mauritian society, have approached the Supreme Court of Mauritius for leave to seek constitutional redress by declaration that Section 250 of the Mauritian Criminal Code Act of 1838 (as amended) violates their fundamental rights and freedom and is unconstitutional.
The leave application was called yesterday before the Honourable Chief Justice, E. Balancy, and the Applicants were ordered to serve copies of the leave application on the State of Mauritius, the Honourable Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions, for them to inform the Supreme Court of their views on the leave application on 30th September 2019.
As stated by lead Plaintiff, Najeeb Ahmad Fokeerbux:
Young Queer Alliance founder Najeeb Ahmad Fokeerbux
“LGBT people in Mauritius are your friends, family, and neighbours and deserve the same rights to have loving, caring relationships as everyone else. It’s time to get rid of this colonial-era law, and we ask all Mauritians to support our effort.”
The Plaintiffs are contending in their plaint for constitutional redress that Section 250 does not have its place in modern and democratic Mauritius in that:
- LGBT people, like all other citizens, should have the fundamental rights to choice of sexual partner, privacy, dignity, protection of the law and equality.
- Section 250 is contrary to the values of democracy and treats LBGT people as second-class citizens.
- Mauritians believe in an equal society free from discrimination, and the continued existence of Section 250 brings about discrimination, inequality, stigma, and persecution of LGBT people.
The Plaintiffs, who come from Hindu, Christian and Muslim backgrounds, are all members of the Young Queer Alliance, a youth-led NGO advocating for the respect of equal human rights for LGBT people in Mauritius.
In 2015, LGBT citizens of Mauritius celebrated their 10th Pride March. (Photo courtesy of Indian Ocean Times)
The Plaintiffs are legally represented before the Supreme Court on a pro-bono basis by Dentons (Mauritius) LLP, the local office of the world’s largest law firm, delivering quality and value to clients around the globe, and by the Franco-Mauritian Law Chambers LCMB et Associés, based in Paris and Mauritius. Plaintiffs are also supported by the Young Queer Alliance and the Love Honor Cherish Foundation.
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