France, March 12 -- "Homosexuals will no longer breathe in this country," said MP Diaraye Ba during a debate on the bill.

To applause from some of her colleagues, she added: "Homosexuals will no longer have freedom of expression in this country."

Under the new law, the maximum sentence will be given if the act is committed with a minor. Fines will rise from between 100,000 and 1.5 million CFA francs (€152 and €2,867) to between 2 and 10 million CFA francs (€3,028 to €15,220).

The new law also includes penalties aimed at preventing the abuse of it. Anyone who denounces another person as homosexual without proof could face two to three years in prison, as well as a fine ranging from 200,000 to 500,000 CFA fra...