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Two women in Comoros have been released after serving prison sentences for homosexuality, their lawyer confirmed on Thursday. The women, aged 20 and 25, were detained in June and sentenced by a Comorian court to five and six months in prison, respectively, with the remaining months of their 10- and 13-month sentences suspended.
Homosexuality is illegal in the Muslim-majority nation of about 870,000 people, with convictions carrying penalties of up to five years in prison. Although prosecutions are rare, this case sparked significant attention.
The women were accused of engaging in “acts of a sexual character contrary to morality and against nature.” Prosecutors sought a one-year prison sentence, calling for an exemplary punishment to deter homosexuality, which they deemed contrary to the country’s values and culture.
Kaambi Mze Soilihi, their lawyer, expressed relief at their release, explaining that their detention had already been served by the time the verdict was delivered.
The pair were reportedly suspected of attempting to obtain a marriage contract through a religious leader. This followed the controversial marriage of a French-Comorian woman and a Reunion Island resident in Mayotte, a nearby French territory. The union stirred strong reactions in the conservative Comorian community.
