Human rights activists demand repeal of law banning homosexuals BUCHAREST, Romania (UPI) -- Human rights activists Wednesday demanded the Romanian government repeal legislation banning homosexuals and release about 60 prisoners charged under the law. The call followed a recent report by the London-based human rights group Amnesty International, which said Romanian homosexuals are victims of police brutality, including beatings, torture and forced confessions. In Romania, homosexual and lesbian acts are punishable by up to five years in prison. "These people (homosexuals) are being punished in the same way as murderers," said Razvan Ion of the Independent Society of Romania for Human Rights. Human rights leaders launched their campaign to repeal the law as Romania prepares to join the Council of Europe, the body grouping countries across the continent that pushes for higher human rights standards. Romania is due to join the organization later this year in the footsteps of several post-communist countries in Eastern Europe, but before doing so it must bring its legislation in line with CE standards. Only one vote is needed to keep Romania off the CE, and the Netherlands has said it will not back the membership bid unless the anti-gay law is repealed. Romania is one of the last countries in Europe to ban homosexuality. Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia and Moldova have similar laws, human rights activists said. About 60 people charged with violating the ban on homosexuality are being held in Romanian prisons, according to government figures released earlier this year. The ban was enacted after the communists came to power in 1947. The Amnesty International report sid a 20-year-old student, Marcel Brosca, was arrested on charges of violating the ban. He was beaten on the soles of his feet with truncheons until he signed a confession, the report said. The report, published in May, lists five such cases. But although same-sex relationships are banned, many homosexuals do not feel threatened by the authorities. "Why should I be afraid? I am doing nothing wrong," said Dr. Florin Mugusel, a 35-year-old gynecologist from Ploiesti, 50 miles north of Bucharest. Mugusel said he and other avowed homosexuals would continue their fight to have the law repealed and to be recognized as a minority. "In Romania we are seen as worse than men who beat their mothers or wives," he said.