British pensioner jailed in Morocco for 'gay acts'

[Redway]

A British holidaymaker has been jailed in Morocco for "homosexual acts", according to his family.

Ray Cole, 70, from Deal in Kent was arrested last week and imprisoned for four months. Mr Cole's son said he had been sleeping on a concrete floor and sharing with "murderers, rapists and paedophiles."

http://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-10-06/british-pensioner-jailed-in-morocco-for-gay-acts/

[Crimson Dynamo]

If he broke the law what is the story?

[Marsh.]

A 70 year old engaging in gay acts. :bored:

[Liam-]

If he broke the law what is the story?

This.

It's wrong and fundamentally immoral that it's against the law, but it's still the countries law, if he broke it, then, they have the right to put him in prison, no matter how wrong that is.

[Redway]

If he broke the law what is the story?

Well, that's the thing and of course Morocco is entitled to sentence him no matter how wrong that is.

[VanessaFeltz.]

If being homosexual is against the laws, then that country is pretty much ****ed up. Specially if that person has to sleep with real criminals in jail.

[Liam-]

If being homosexual is against the laws, then that country is pretty much ****ed up. Specially if that person has to sleep with real criminals in jail.

Well we know that, most countries these days know that's ****ed up, but to them, it's acceptable to see homosexual acts as being illegal, that's the normal thought process for them obviously.

[VanessaFeltz.]

Well we know that, most countries these days know that's ****ed up, but to them, it's acceptable to see homosexual acts as being illegal, that's the normal thought process for them obviously.

It is understandable people are unfamiliar with "gay thing" and i know you cant expect people to understand quickly (i live in an islamic country) but you cant put people in jail with people who rapes other people, kills and steals just because they are diffrent.

[Liam-]

It is understandable people are unfamiliar with "gay thing" and i know you cant expect people to understand quickly (i live in an islamic country) but you cant put people in jail with people who rapes other people, kills and steals just because they are diffrent.

In their eyes you can, they see it as being just as bad as those crimes, it's disgusting that they do, but that's what they believe and stand by, It's down to them if they want to change and see things differently, no-one can force them too.

[joeysteele]

Seems a harsh sentence to me but some Countries are way behind the civilised World as to the rights of Gay people,they are Countries best avoided in my opinion and places certainly to take great care in when in them too.

If it is against their laws then they will obviously act against the individual/s,to me however their laws are wrong but that's another story.

[VanessaFeltz.]

In their eyes you can, they see it as being just as bad as those crimes, it's disgusting that they do, but that's what they believe and stand by, It's down to them if they want to change and see things differently, no-one can force them too.

People have rights to act however they want but they dont have a right to effect other peoples life like that.

[arista]

A British holidaymaker has been jailed in Morocco for "homosexual acts", according to his family.

Ray Cole, 70, from Deal in Kent was arrested last week and imprisoned for four months. Mr Cole's son said he had been sleeping on a concrete floor and sharing with "murderers, rapists and paedophiles."

http://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-10-06/british-pensioner-jailed-in-morocco-for-gay-acts/


Yes it was on his mobile phone the police found stuff.

But he knew the Laws of that nation.

Being Gay is Illegal in Loads of Countrys.



He rolled his dice
and got bad numbers

[Redway]

People have rights to act however they want but they dont have a right to effect other peoples life like that.

Morocco is clearly a backwards country but it's not like being here where gay rights are recognised. I'm sure he knew fully well what he was getting himself in for so he only has himself to blame.

[arista]

Seems a harsh sentence to me but some Countries are way behind the civilised World as to the rights of Gay people,they are Countries best avoided in my opinion and places certainly to take great care in when in them too.

If it is against their laws then they will obviously act against the individual/s,to me however their laws are wrong but that's another story.


Bollocks it is


Gays are Illegal in loads of Nations



You a Student
need to travel more

[Crimson Dynamo]

I thought that was where all the gays in the 60s and 70s went to get laid like Joe Orton etc?

[VanessaFeltz.]

Morocco is clearly a backwards country but it's not like being here where gay rights are recognised. I'm sure he knew fully well what he was getting himself in for so he only has himself to blame.

thats sadly true too

[Liam-]

People have rights to act however they want but they dont have a right to effect other peoples life like that.

In that country, homosexual acts are against the law, so if someone doesn't want to be arrested, don't go there and commit homosexual acts, no matter what you think of the laws and how wrong they are, if you're going to another country, you have to abide by their rules, otherwise you're going to pay the price, unfortunately there are still countries that have the right to prosecute people for being gay and that is their prerogative, we can sit here and say how awful it is until we're all blue in the face and the cows come marching home, but in their country that's the law and they can do what they want with it and do what they want to the people who break it.

[Redway]

Being Gay is Illegal in Loads of Countrys.


No ****.

[Kizzy]

It's funny how people are so worried about human rights in Morocco but not here, are we not thinking about doing away with the human rights act? What's happening in Morocco could very easily happen here if it were.
I feel for the guy but if that's the law as it stands atm then he has to accept the consequences, there are hundreds of other places he could have gone and been free to express his sexuality.

[joeysteele]

Bollocks it is


Gays are Illegal in loads of Nations



You a Student
need to travel more

arista, to me it is a harsh sentence, to me it is ridiculous any Nation still has these daft laws as to homosexuality, people cannot help being gay,it shouldn't be a criminal act anywhere in my view.

I have travelled plenty already in my life up to now being 22 and I am,by the way,no longer a student arista, I graduated over a year ago actually.

This clearly was against their laws so some 'dealing' with that in such a Country would be necessary,however to imprison someone of 70, is to me, way over the top.
Unless his interest was towards minors.

[VanessaFeltz.]

This clearly was against their laws so some 'dealing' with that in such a Country would be necessary,however to imprison someone of 70, is to me, way over the top.
Unless his interest was towards minors.

.

[Crimson Dynamo]

It's funny how people are so worried about human rights in Morocco but not here, are we not thinking about doing away with the human rights act? What's happening in Morocco could very easily happen here if it were.
I feel for the guy but if that's the law as it stands atm then he has to accept the consequences, there are hundreds of other places he could have gone and been free to express his sexuality.

Yes, he could have applied for a irregular flat share

[Kizzy]

arista, to me it is a harsh sentence, to me it is ridiculous any Nation still has these daft laws as to homosexuality, people cannot help being gay,it shouldn't be a criminal act anywhere in my view.

I have travelled plenty already in my life up to now being 22 and I am,by the way,no longer a student arista, I graduated over a year ago actually.

This clearly was against their laws so some 'dealing' with that in such a Country would be necessary,however to imprison someone of 70, is to me, way over the top.
Unless his interest was towards minors.

I was going to mention this but there's no question of it as yet, it will be interesting to see why he traveled to this locale especially.

[Niamh.]

what did he actually do?

[VanessaFeltz.]

And true why would you go there? If i had a chance to travel that wouldnt be an ignorant place thats for sure.

[Crimson Dynamo]

what did he actually do?

dont ruin the thread by asking pertinent questions :nono:

[Niamh.]

Like if it was something like holding hands with another man or some s**t like that, you would think it'd be more beneficial to Morrocos tourist industry for them to first of all warn the guy that he could end up in prison for doing that

[kirklancaster]

"Morocco 'not safe for British tourists' after gay man's arrest
An MP has said that Morocco is not safe for British tourists after a holidaymaker has been jailed in Morocco on "homosexual acts"charges.

I have been doing all I can to help free Mr Cole from these appalling charges. I am deeply concerned about his safety and it is clear that if you visit Morocco you are at serious risk of facing trumped up charges for medieval crimes. The message is clear - Morocco is not safe for British tourists.

I am gravely concerned by the state of Moroccan prisons, and the care and the safety he will have in jail.

I'm raising it with ministers, asking them to intervene more directly on his behalf. It is a shocking and appalling situation for a British national to be in, and it is really important to get him back to the UK."

– CHARLIE ELPHICKE, CONSERVATIVE MP FOR DOVER

Do we know whether he actually committed a 'crime' or not. I am going on this MP's terminology "trumped up charges.."

[arista]

arista, to me it is a harsh sentence, to me it is ridiculous any Nation still has these daft laws as to homosexuality, people cannot help being gay,it shouldn't be a criminal act anywhere in my view.

I have travelled plenty already in my life up to now being 22 and I am,by the way,no longer a student arista, I graduated over a year ago actually.

This clearly was against their laws so some 'dealing' with that in such a Country would be necessary,however to imprison someone of 70, is to me, way over the top.
Unless his interest was towards minors.


OK you are beyond
a Student now
well done



But you must respect every Nations Rules
Thats so Fecking simple

[arista]

"Morocco is not safe for British tourists."


It is but Respect there Laws
is so fecking simple

[Ammi]

..I agree with Arista, you really do have to respect other countries laws while you're there, regardless of whether you think they're right or not...it'll be interesting to know more of the story and what he was doing exactly..

[Niamh.]

..I agree with Arista, you really do have to respect other countries laws while you're there, regardless of whether you think they're right or not...it'll be interesting to know more of the story and what he was doing exactly..

absolutely but I wonder if he was aware that whatever he was doing was against the law there? I suppose it's all speculation anyway until we find that out

[arista]

..I agree with Arista, you really do have to respect other countries laws while you're there, regardless of whether you think they're right or not...it'll be interesting to know more of the story and what he was doing exactly..




You Are Most Wise

[Ammi]

absolutely but I wonder if he was aware that whatever he was doing was against the law there? I suppose it's all speculation anyway until we find that out


..yeah, I guess that being the age he was as well but inly coming out with his sexuality a few years age, he might not be aware of any different countries laws...that's very sad if that's the case and he's now imprisoned...there was no mention of him going with a partner, I don't think..?...so I think we definitely need more of this story...

[MTVN]

These are the details of his 'crime'

Mr Cole travelled to Marrakesh in September on holiday to visit a Moroccan man, Jamal Walk Nass.

The pair were reportedly approached by police officers while standing at a bus stop on 18 September. Both men were arrested on the grounds of suspected homosexuality.

Moroccan authorities are understood to have held a trial for both men using a photo from Mr Cole’s mobile phone showing them both together as evidence. Both men were sentenced to four months.

More here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/british-man-jailed-for-committing-homosexual-acts-in-morocco-9775471.html

So regardless of homosexuality being illegal it seems he was convicted in a farce of a trial based on trumped up evidence amounting to very little

[Niamh.]

These are the details of his 'crime'



So regardless of homosexuality being illegal it seems he was convicted in a farce of a trial based on trumped up evidence amounting to very little

wow that's completely wrong if that's what happened then. I hope that more MPs intervene to help the poor man.

[Marsh.]

So you get arrested if they think you're gay rather than you actually being caught in a homosexual activity? :crazy:

Talk about witch hunt.

[VanessaFeltz.]

Talk about witch hunt.

+1

I think those people who arrested them have serious issues and they need medical help just saying.

[joeysteele]

These are the details of his 'crime'



So regardless of homosexuality being illegal it seems he was convicted in a farce of a trial based on trumped up evidence amounting to very little

Exactly, and I still say even though homosexual acts are against the law there, there can surely still be a case for compassion for someone 70 years of age anyway.

If what you have posted is the case then I definitely think the authorities there are even moreso out of order as to this.

[Crimson Dynamo]

"suspected homosexuality."??

that is about 90% of the blokes in fecking Morocco

[joeysteele]

wow that's completely wrong if that's what happened then. I hope that more MPs intervene to help the poor man.

So do I Niamh, so do I.

[bots]

"suspected homosexuality."??

that is about 90% of the blokes in fecking Morocco

I was just thinking the same, I think there is more to this than is being publicised

[kirklancaster]

These are the details of his 'crime'



So regardless of homosexuality being illegal it seems he was convicted in a farce of a trial based on trumped up evidence amounting to very little

I suspected as much. Fking ridiculous regime.

[arista]

So you get arrested if they think you're gay rather than you actually being caught in a homosexual activity? :crazy:

Talk about witch hunt.


They are setting examples



Great Nation for Holidays
Obey All Laws, though.

http://www.ciee.org/study-abroad/images/programs/0042/body/rabat-morocco-language-and-culture-studying-abroad-student-tour-visit.jpg

[Cherie]

If it is against the law of the country then visitors to said country have to respect that, people bang on about how immigrants should respect English culture but then go to another country and do exactly the thing they complain about at home, disrepecting that countries culture and laws (however backward they may be!).

[Northern Monkey]

If it is against the law of the country then visitors to said country have to respect that, people bang on about how immigrants should respect English culture but then go to another country and do exactly the thing they complain about at home, disrepecting that countries culture and laws (however backward they may be!).

I agree here.I think this man should've done more research on the country he was visiting before embarking on a holiday there.You should really know if there are any laws like this before going.Specially since it's a muslim country,There are bound to be different laws over there.

[Withano]

Illegal acts in Morocco can give a person up to ten years in prison.

Imagine how horrified you'd be if a Moroccan man came to England with possession of firearm with intent to cause fear of violence or was to administer poison or even made threats to kill people.

Because that would give them up to ten years in prison too. Even though Brits are all for gay culture, not every culture is. He got lucky with the four months.

[Niamh.]

If it is against the law of the country then visitors to said country have to respect that, people bang on about how immigrants should respect English culture but then go to another country and do exactly the thing they complain about at home, disrepecting that countries culture and laws (however backward they may be!).

Illegal acts in Morocco can give a person up to ten years in prison.

Imagine how horrified you'd be if a Moroccan man came to England with possession of firearm with intent to cause fear of violence or was to administer poison or even made threats to kill people.

Because that would give them up to ten years in prison too. Even though Brits are all for gay culture, not every culture is. He got lucky with the four months.

Did you read what his crime was though? look at MTVNs post on this page

[Cherie]

Did you read what his crime was though? look at MTVNs post on this page

It does seem very slim evidence and if this is the case the British Embassy woll intervene and get him out, there may be more to it than has been revealed in that article though

[Shaun]

A 69-year-old British man who was jailed for "homosexual acts" in Morocco has been released, his son has said.

Ray Cole, from Deal, Kent, was given four months with his Moroccan partner Jamal Jam Wald Nass, after images were found on his phone.

A campaign to have him released was organised by his son Adrian Cole, who said his father had been "overwhelmed" by the level of international support.

Foreign Office guidelines state homosexuality is a crime in Morocco.

He was four weeks into a five-week holiday in Morocco when he was detained by police at a bus stop.

He had gone to the north African country to see 20-year-old Mr Nass for the second time, after developing a friendship on Facebook.

well that's that, then.

[Liam-]

So he's a sugar daddy too? Damn, he must be busy.

[arista]

So he's a sugar daddy too? Damn, he must be busy.


Yes now in Jail


Respect the Nations Laws

[Liam-]

Yes now in Jail


Respect the Nations Laws

He's been released hun.

[Nedusa]

Yes it was on his mobile phone the police found stuff.

But he knew the Laws of that nation.

Being Gay is Illegal in Loads of Countrys.



He rolled his dice
and got bad numbers

But what grounds did the police have for looking on his phone in the first place ?




.

[arista]

He's been released hun.


Yes Lucky old boy

[joeysteele]

I am pleased sense has prevailed and that he is free.

[Z]

Apparently his son's gay too

[Marsh.]

Apparently his son's gay too

Arrest ha

[Ninastar]

Arrest ha

tbh, they are lucky they weren't killed over there... there's some seriously scary places in Africa and its scary to think you can still be stoned to death in this day and age.

it sucks that they had to go to prison, but yeah, be super careful when you're on holiday in a messed up country.

[arista]

Apparently his son's gay too

How Nice

[arista]

But what grounds did the police have for looking on his phone in the first place ?




.


It was not just the phone
locals had told told the Police
he was with a younger man
and they were more than friends.

At the time they Questioned them
they then had Full Right to look at
his Phone photos etc.



It is all Very Logical
as in that nation being gay is
Illegal.


Next time the Sugar Daddy
travels - make sure its not a Illegal Gay Nation

[Ammi]

A British holidaymaker jailed in Morocco for being gay has had a tearful reunion with his family as he returned to the UK following his release from prison.

Ray Cole, 69, was imprisoned for four months with his Moroccan friend Jamal Jam Wald Nass after homosexual images were found on his password-protected phone.

The pair were languishing in a crowded, barbed-wire topped Marrakesh jail but Mr Cole was granted a conditional release today after an appeal was lodged.

Mr Cole was met by his family at Gatwick airport last night and told reporters that he was "relieved" to be back home.

His son, Adrian Cole, 41, said: "Our legal team in Marrakesh lodged an appeal today.

"It has moved much faster than we expected and the court was able to take the step of releasing my father.

"We would like to express our gratitude as a family to the thousands of people who have offered us their support and kindness. I would also like to offer my thanks to the Moroccan authorities."

The case has generated huge interest on social media from supporters who asked for the Moroccan authorities to free retired Mr Cole, from Deal, Kent.

As well as a petition, a "Free Ray Cole" hashtag circulated on Twitter and a Facebook page was set up calling for the release of Mr Cole, who has a minor heart condition.

He struck up a friendship with Mr Nass, who is in his 20s, on Facebook. It was on Mr Cole's second visit to Morocco to see him that they were detained at a bus stop by officers.

Mr Cole, who is 70 on October 25, was four weeks into a five-week break in the north African country when the pair were held on September 18.

Confusion initially reigned over where he was being held until he was eventually tracked down.

On October 2 his family received a phone call telling them the pair had been jailed for four months. They had feared a six-month jail term as a worst-case scenario.

He was being kept in a cell intended for 44 men which was holding 60, forcing Mr Cole to sleep on the ground and live with dangerous prisoners.

Relatives tried to make his time behind bars more bearable by buying essentials, including multi-vitamins to compensate for the lack of nutritional food.

Adrian Cole said that the guards and prison governor had treated the family "graciously" and that his father's release had been a "massive step towards restoring my faith towards the Moroccan system".

Ray Coles, centre, is greeted by his family at Gatwick airport© Provided by Press Association Ray Coles, centre, is greeted by his family at Gatwick airport
The Foreign Office website says homosexuality is a criminal offence in Morocco.

It states: "Sexual relations outside marriage are also punishable by law."

But Mr Cole's local MP, Conservative Charlie Elphicke, branded the charges "medieval" and said it showed British tourists are not safe in Morocco.

Former deputy speaker of the House of Commons Nigel Evans also lashed out at the "archaic" law that sent Mr Cole to prison

[Cherie]

Maybe the ex deputy speaker should lash out at The European law that let's convicted murderers travel with impunity into the UK and let the Morrocans get on with it, no one is forced to go to Morroco, plenty other more enlightened countries to visit.

[arista]

The Sugar Daddy was just Live on the This Morning Now


His young man is still in Jail
and its his fault

[Nedusa]

It was not just the phone
locals had told told the Police
he was with a younger man
and they were more than friends.

At the time they Questioned them
they then had Full Right to look at
his Phone photos etc.



It is all Very Logical
as in that nation being gay is
Illegal.


Next time the Sugar Daddy
travels - make sure its not a Illegal Gay Nation

So he was arrested on the word of a member of the public....wtf ???





.