Ray Cole, a Briton from Deal, Kent, was jailed for "homosexual acts" by the police at a bus stop in Marrakech last month, his family said, according to bbc.com. His son, Adrian Cole, said that his father had been a magazine publisher who had retired. He was 69, and visited a friend in Morocco when he was arrested for being gay. Both were imprisoned for four months from Thursday. Mr Cole was confined to hot and cluttered conditions, and was forced to sleep on the hard floor. His health is at risk in Morocco's central jail.

The Dover and Deal MP, Charlie Elphicke, had told travellers that Morocco was "unsafe for British tourists." He had been trying his best to free Ray from prison. He asked people not to visit Morocco, or else face fake accusations for "medieval crimes."

His family has got into a public drive to free him. A #freeraycole hashtag has been set up on Twitter as well as a Facebook page calling for public support. In a post on the page, Adrian wrote that his father had publicly declared himself gay a few years ago. He had gone to Morocco only on a vacation with a friend. The police found some photographs on his cell that showed his real identity, and decided to arrest him.

Describing the prison conditions, Adrian writes: "Life is pretty bleak in there, they are served boiled vegetables once a day and his cell is a dorm designed to sleep 44, however since there are 60 men in there, my 70-year-old father sleeps on the concrete floor." He also mentioned that the prison does not keep criminals separate, so he is forced to inhabit his cell with murderers, rapists and paedophiles. He reported that though they were working to free him along with the foreign and commonwealth office, they were not able to change the law.

However, it was possible for them to make it embarrassing for Moroccan authorities, he said. He pointed out that Morocco produces nothing, and only relies on tourism. Yet, though it welcomes tourists like Adrian's father, Morocco casts judgements on all. "Please help by joining, liking, sharing, lobbying and using your skills and contacts to achieve one aim: FREE RAY COLE!" he added.

According to Foreign Office guidelines, being gay is criminal in Morocco. Extra-marital affairs could also face penalty. A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson confirmed that he had been jailed, but declared that they were giving consular assistance.