British man jailed in Morocco for being gay freed

A British man jailed in Morocco for being gay returned to the UK last night (October 7) after being released from prison.

Earlier this week (October 6), it was reported that 70-year-old Ray Cole had been arrested and sentenced to four months in prison after explicit images were found on his phone by Moroccan authorities.

Cole had been visiting the North African country to meet a local man he had met online – who was also sentenced and who’s fate remains unclear, The London Evening Standard reports.

After his family lodged an appeal Mr Cole was put on conditional release, before being reunited with his family at Gatwick airport last night. Speaking to reporters at the airport he said he was “relieved” to be back home.

“I did not expect this at all – I thought I was going to be transferred to a different prison. They gave me a choice of staying in Morocco another night or getting the next flight back,” Cole said.

“You would not believe it, it’s horrendous. It’s not a prison, it’s a concentration camp. People are in there from the age of 10 to 80 and 90s for nothing. I can hardly move my arm from sleeping on the floor.”

When asked about the support from his family he said: “I’m so proud of them – I could not have a better family.”

His son Adrian, who has been leading the campaign for his father’s release, explained: “Our legal team in Marrakesh lodged an appeal. It has moved much faster than we expected and the court was able to take the step of releasing my father.”

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal Morocco, where those convicted face up to 3 years in prison and a fine.

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