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Campaign to free gay Briton Ray Cole from Morocco jail | Campaign to free gay Briton Ray Cole from Morocco jail |
(35 minutes later) | |
A campaign has been launched to free a British man who was jailed for "homosexual acts" in Morocco. | A campaign has been launched to free a British man who was jailed for "homosexual acts" in Morocco. |
Ray Cole, from Deal, Kent, was detained with his Moroccan partner by police who approached the pair at a bus stop in Marrakech last month, his family said. | Ray Cole, from Deal, Kent, was detained with his Moroccan partner by police who approached the pair at a bus stop in Marrakech last month, his family said. |
His son Adrian Cole said the retired magazine publisher, 69, was jailed for four months on Thursday. | |
Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke warned travellers that Morocco was unsafe for British tourists. | Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke warned travellers that Morocco was unsafe for British tourists. |
'Medieval crimes' | 'Medieval crimes' |
The Conservative MP told the Pink News: "I have been doing all I can to help free Mr Cole from these appalling charges. | The Conservative MP told the Pink News: "I have been doing all I can to help free Mr Cole from these appalling charges. |
"I urge people not to visit Morocco. If you go there you are at serious risk of facing trumped up charges for medieval crimes. | "I urge people not to visit Morocco. If you go there you are at serious risk of facing trumped up charges for medieval crimes. |
"The message is clear: Morocco is not safe for British tourists." | "The message is clear: Morocco is not safe for British tourists." |
A #freeraycole hashtag has been set up on Twitter and a Facebook page has also been set up calling for Mr Cole's release. | A #freeraycole hashtag has been set up on Twitter and a Facebook page has also been set up calling for Mr Cole's release. |
His family claim his health is at risk due to the conditions in the city's central prison. | His family claim his health is at risk due to the conditions in the city's central prison. |
Foreign Office guidelines state that homosexuality is a criminal offence in Morocco and sexual relations outside marriage are also punishable by law. | Foreign Office guidelines state that homosexuality is a criminal offence in Morocco and sexual relations outside marriage are also punishable by law. |
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said: "We can confirm the detention of a British national in Morocco. | A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said: "We can confirm the detention of a British national in Morocco. |
"We are providing consular assistance." | "We are providing consular assistance." |
The Moroccan Embassy has been contacted for comment. | The Moroccan Embassy has been contacted for comment. |
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