Michael 533 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 The family of a British tourist jailed in Morocco for being gay are campaigning for his release. Ray Cole, a retired magazine publisher from Deal in Kent, was arrested last Thursday and given a four-month sentence for "homos-xual acts". His son Adrian Cole told Sky News that his father had been in Morocco for about four weeks when he "suddenly vanished, the Facebook updates stopped, we couldn’t reach him on his phone". While his family looked for him with Interpol and the Foreign Office, Mr Cole managed to use the phone of a fellow inmate to communicate that he was in prison. Adrian Cole said his father and a friend were waiting at a bus stop when they were approached by police and asked why they were together. "They accessed my father's phone, and inside one of the folders they found a photograph that they said was compromising," he said. "Based on that, they were charged with homos-xuality." He said his father, who came out as gay a few years ago, was respectful of Morocco's laws and that he is a "very discreet" person. Adrian Cole said his father has been sleeping on the floor in a crowded jail, and that the conditions are starting to take a toll on the 70-year-old. The family plan on launching an appeal. "Our hope is that they (Moroccan authorities) would see fit to simply remove him from the country," he said. They have also launched an internet campaign, with a Facebook page calling for his release and a #freeraycole hashtag set up on Twitter. Former deputy speaker of the House of Commons Nigel Evans said he would talk to the Moroccan ambassador and ask her "to convey to His Majesty a plea from the gay community in the UK to release this man in order that he can return to the UK as soon as possible". "I deplore the fact that Mr Cole is spending any time in a jail there," Mr Evans, a gay MP, told Pink news. "I call upon MPs from Morocco to look again at the way they are treating gay people. "Do they really want their country associated with such archaic laws, and do they really think it is wise to lock someone up for four months for something that is legal in so many countries around the world?" A Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed the detention of a British citizen in Morocco and said they are providing consular assistance. http://news.sky.com/story/1348229/briton-jailed-in-morocco-for-homos-xual-acts Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GagaStefi 1,231 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 I would've sais I was straight tbh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMROD 117,522 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 This is so backward. I hope England will help this man out of the country. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ✧*:･ﾟ ˢᵖᵉᵉᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵉⁱᵍʰᵗ (*´艸｀*) ♡♡♡ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HermioneGranger 608 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 Disgusting. They better release him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael 533 Posted October 6, 2014 Author Share Posted October 6, 2014 I was in Tuinisia this summer (another country where being gay is illegal) and it is located just next to Morocco, and I was very surprised to find that it seemed extremley gay friendly and there were many gay people living openly and happily and I didn't encounter any discrimination or uncomfortableness for myself or the people I met there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCHofficial 5,293 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 Morocco... The country my blood comes from Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valextra 58 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewYorkCity 10,536 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 Oh, there you go, another country that I won't visit. it is on my list right next to Russia. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staryu 6,162 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 :( They better release him soon. It's ridiculous. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMROD 117,522 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 I mean, they are also breaching someone's privacy by forcing to check their phone, right? (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ✧*:･ﾟ ˢᵖᵉᵉᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵉⁱᵍʰᵗ (*´艸｀*) ♡♡♡ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael 533 Posted October 6, 2014 Author Share Posted October 6, 2014 I mean, they are also breaching someone's privacy by forcing to check their phone, right? Surely. But they probably mask that with they had rights to because they were 'under suspicion'. :roll: I'm confused as to why only one of the men was jailed too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
boobtank 9,090 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 Is this allowed? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melech 9,900 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 well if you are going to a country you should also adapt their laws Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FameHookah 4,841 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 well if you are going to a country you should also adapt their laws Mess :koons: Wtf is wrong with you? :awkney: WTF is MDNA Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melech 9,900 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 Mess :koons: Wtf is wrong with you? Nothing. I mean American also can't take their gun to Europe etc. Even if those laws (i mean in morroco now,not the gun law in europe) are inhuman ,you need to follow them if you go to those countries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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