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Dakar, Senegal – In the heart of West Africa’s most stable democracy, an ideological battle rages beneath the surface. Known for its vibrant culture, tolerance, and democratic institutions, Senegal also harbors ultra-conservative movements that challenge its liberal fabric. Among the most notorious of these is Jamra, a religious pressure group founded in Dakar in the late 1980s and led by Mame Mactar Guèye.

While Jamra presents itself as a defender of Islamic morality and Senegalese cultural identity, human rights observers, LGBTQ+ activists, and international media outlets have repeatedly criticized the group for promoting hate, inciting violence, and undermining constitutional freedoms.

1. Historical Background and Founding

Jamra was founded in 1987 by Senegalese Islamic scholar Imam Moustapha Cissé, but the movement gained prominence under its current spokesperson, Mame Mactar Guèye. Initially framed as an Islamic NGO promoting public ethics and social justice, the group evolved into a powerful religious lobby wielding influence over media regulation, public morality, and government policy.

2. Ideological Foundations

Jamra’s ideology is rooted in Salafi-Islamic principles that emphasize a return to strict Quranic norms, rejection of Western liberalism, and public enforcement of moral behavior. Though it claims to oppose “moral decay” and Western influence in Senegalese society, critics argue that its views are intolerant, patriarchal, and violently homophobic.




Jamra targets:

  • Media outlets that showcase LGBTQ+ content or liberal sexual norms

  • Artists and musicians who express non-traditional ideas

  • Human rights defenders, especially those advocating for sexual and religious minorities

3. Major Controversies and Human Rights Abuses

Jamra has been at the center of multiple national and international controversies. While not formally classified as a terrorist organization, the group has been accused of inciting violence, issuing death threats, and fueling mob justice.

a. Anti-LGBTQ+ Campaigns

Jamra is infamous for its virulent opposition to LGBTQ+ rights. It has led marches, media campaigns, and violent threats against queer individuals and organizations.

  • February 2021: Jamra publicly supported the mass arrest of suspected LGBTQ+ individuals during a private event in Dakar. Dozens were detained, humiliated, and assaulted.

  • 2022–2024: The group spearheaded a campaign to criminalize homosexuality under Islamic law-inspired proposals, advocating punishments as extreme as stoning or public flogging.

  • Atrocity Documentation: Multiple verified images and videos show Jamra-led mobs burning rainbow flags, assaulting suspected queer individuals, and storming LGBTQ-friendly venues in Dakar.

(Visual Note: Ethical outlets may show blurred photos of marches, scenes of vandalism at LGBTQ+ centers, or screenshots of Jamra’s inflammatory press releases to illustrate this section.)

b. Censorship and Artistic Repression

Jamra has waged cultural warfare on Senegal’s creative class.

  • In 2020, it forced the cancellation of a musical performance by artist Wally Seck for allegedly promoting “effeminate behavior.”

  • It routinely lodges formal complaints with CNRA (National Audiovisual Regulatory Council) to shut down TV programs that depict romance, modern dating, or LGBTQ+ characters.

  • In 2023, Jamra stormed a private theater screening of a film dealing with interfaith love and forced its closure.

(Suggested imagery: Protesters outside cultural venues, documents showing Jamra’s formal complaints, and screenshots of censored TV scenes.)

c. Mob Justice and Threats Against Human Rights Defenders

Perhaps the gravest threat posed by Jamra is its mobilization of violent mobs. Human rights defenders, women’s rights organizations, and secular journalists often receive death threats from its supporters.

  • Notable Case: In 2021, Seynabou Diop, a young activist advocating for sexual education, was assaulted after Jamra labeled her a “deviant” on national TV.

  • Groupe Patriotique du Sénégal (GPS), a civil rights coalition, has denounced Jamra for working with Islamist militias and for creating a culture of fear in civil society.

(Suggested visuals: Protest banners demanding justice for attacked activists, screenshots of social media posts inciting violence.)

4. Legal and Government Response

Though Senegal officially upholds a secular constitution and human rights laws, the government has been hesitant to confront Jamra head-on due to the group’s religious influence and large following.

  • Authorities have made symbolic condemnations but rarely enforce legal consequences.

  • Civil society organizations have called for Jamra’s dissolution or classification as a hate group, but efforts remain stalled.

5. Regional and International Reaction

The actions of Jamra have attracted condemnation from:

  • Amnesty International

  • Human Rights Watch

  • United Nations Human Rights Council

  • European Parliament, which criticized Senegal for allowing hate groups to flourish unchecked

In particular, the UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity cited Senegal as a “country of concern” due to Jamra’s unchecked influence.

6. The Ongoing Struggle for Civil Rights in Senegal

Despite Jamra’s intimidation campaigns, brave Senegalese citizens continue to fight back:

  • Youth-led movements like “Voices of Change” use music, graffiti, and digital activism to denounce religious extremism.

  • GPS and allied organizations have created underground networks to protect LGBTQ+ individuals and document abuses.

  • Exiled activists have sought asylum in Europe and North America, citing death threats linked to Jamra.

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