Niger has officially criminalized same-sex relationships with the adoption of its new penal code, as reported Thursday. This marks the first time the West African nation, predominantly Muslim and socially conservative, has codified homosexuality as a crime. Previously, same-sex relations were a taboo subject but not legally punishable. The new legislation follows a trend of increasingly restrictive laws concerning LGBTQ+ rights in several countries across the sub-region. Details of the specific penalties within the new code have not yet been widely released. Human rights organizations are expressing concern over the implications for the LGBTQ+ community in Niger. The move reflects growing conservatism within the country and its regional neighbors.