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Gay Briton Ray Cole released from Moroccan jail | Gay Briton Ray Cole released from Moroccan jail |
(34 minutes later) | |
A 69-year-old British man who was jailed for "homosexual acts" in Morocco has been released, his son has said. | 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 sentenced to four months with his Moroccan partner after homosexual images were found on his phone. | |
Following his release his family thanked the Moroccan authorities for "showing compassion". | |
Foreign Office guidelines state homosexuality is a crime in the north African country. | |
In a statement on the campaign's Facebook page, there was a message saying: "We are delighted to announce that our dad, Ray Cole has been released from prison and is on his way home. | |
"We would like to thank each and every one of you here and in Morocco who has helped our campaign to secure the release of our wonderful father. | |
"We would also like to thank the Moroccan authorities for showing compassion. | |
"We would ask that you allow us some time as a family to absorb the news and to spend some time with Dad." | |
He was four weeks into a five-week holiday in Morocco when he was detained by police. | |
He had gone to the north African country to see 20-year-old Jamal Jam Wald Nass for the second time, after developing a friendship on Facebook. | |
The pair were stopped by police in Marrakech as they were waiting at a bus stop. | |
Mr Cole's son had previously said his father had been treated well by prison staff and he had been put in a part of the prison that was reserved for older prisoners. | |
A campaign with the #freeraycole hashtag was set up on Twitter along side a Facebook page and online petition. |