Denmark Withholds Aid To Tanzania After Anti-Gay Comments

Ulla Tornaes

Denmark is withholding 65m krone (£7.5m; $9.8m) in aid to Tanzania after "unacceptable homophobic comments" from a senior politician, a minister says.

Development minister Ulla Tornaes did not name the official but said she was "very concerned" by the comments.

Last month, Paul Makonda, commissioner for the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, called on the public to report suspected gay men to the police.

He said he would set up a surveillance squad to track down gay people.

However, the government later distanced itself from his views, saying that he "was only airing his personal opinion", not government policy.

Homosexual acts are illegal in Tanzania and punishable by up to 30 years in prison.


(BBC)



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