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File photo of Sfax, Tunisia Shutterstock/Dmitry Chulov
North Africa
Tunisia to end 'inhuman' forced anal examinations on 'suspected homosexuals'
Foreign and local rights groups have condemned the practice of the forced exams as “cruel” and “inhuman”.
10.31am, 23 Sep 2017
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TUNISIA, WHERE SODOMY is punishable by jail, has committed itself to ban forced anal examinations to determine sexual orientation, the North African state’s minister for human rights said yesterday.
The authorities carry out the tests on suspected homosexuals but “these exams can no longer be imposed by force, physical or moral, or without the consent of the person concerned”, Mehdi Ben Gharbia told AFP, without giving a specific date for the change to be implemented.
Foreign and local rights groups have condemned the practice of forced anal exams as “cruel” and “inhuman”.
Ben Gharbia said judges can still request that a suspect undergo the test “but that person has every right to refuse, without his refusal being held up as proof of homosexuality”, under the change.
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Tunisia is “committed to protecting the sexual minority from any form of stigmatisation, discrimination and violence”, the minister insisted.
Tunisia’s transition to democracy since a 2011 revolution against dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has allowed for open debate on the situation of its gay and lesbian community.
But several youths were arrested on charges of homosexuality and convicted in 2016.
Homosexuality is still punishable by three years in jail under Article 230 of Tunisia’s criminal code, which President Beji Caid Essebsi has said would not be repealed.
“Civil society must first be prepared” for such change in the conservative Muslim country, Ben Gharbia said.
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Conna castle hosted an annual rock concert for many years, it was known as the “conna barbeque”….meatloaf played it once! ’twas the scene of many nights of drinking and debauchery….it finished in the late 90′s I think….cool castle tho!
Oh the memories of Conna barbecue! All the east Cork readers (of a certain age) know what I’m talking about. I must go to see the castle through sober eyes, it looks lovely. Great article too, thanks!
In the good old 1970′s my aunt brought me to see a Giants footprint somewhere in county Kildare and I as a kid loved it. I want to bring my own kids now and can’t find a thing on it, it may have been in Kilcullen but we are not sure, anyone know of this? It was in a field with hills and a huge giants footprint. Any help greatly appreciated.
I like these articles but I dont know if Carrowmore qualifies as off the beaten track. As the article mentions it is well signposted(In one of the most popular areas of the county for tourists) and there’s entrance fees.
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