New Seychelles penal code to include LGBTQ-inclusive hate crimes provisions
Lawmakers in the Seychelles on Wednesday approved a bill that will add an LGBTQ-inclusive hate crimes provision to the country’s penal code.
The National Assembly by an 18-8 vote margin approved the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The hate crimes provision specifically includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and HIV/AIDS status, among other factors.
The bill states anyone convicted of a hate crime based on the outlined characteristics could face a fine and/or up to two years in prison for the first conviction and a fine and/or up to three years in prison for any subsequent convictions. “The inclusion of hate speech as an offense within the penal code (Cap.
158) provides for the intention to incite hatred towards a person or group of persons based on their protected characteristics, through various forms of communication or behavior, if the expression is perceived to be threatening, abusive or insulting,” said Attorney General Frank Ally in a July 1 letter that detailed the bill.
