Disturbing news from the central African nation of Cameroon, where gay men are routinely and randomly arrested and subjected to legal ordeals that continue for years. Since late July, a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old have been in custody. Reports suggest the youths were arrested because they appeared "feminine". Those two and an additional man have received the maximum prison sentence, reports AFP.
The Ekounou court sentenced the three on Tuesday to five years imprisonment and a fine, the heaviest sentence provided by Cameroonian law, which bans homosexuality, Michel Togue told AFP. Two of the convicted men were present for the ruling but the third was sentenced in absentia, said Togue, who added he had appealed the decision.
"It's a bad ruling because it is a blatant violation of the law," the lawyer said, citing procedural technicalities when the guilty verdict was handed down. He also accused the judge of peppering the hearing with homophobic innuendos.
"The three were allegedly caught in the act in a vehicle in July. "It's a shocking and unacceptable decision," said Alice Nkom, president of the pro-gay advocacy group Adefho. "It is not worthy of a country that speaks of human rights."
The young men were reportedly beaten and tortured in jail.
The central African nation boasts one of Africa's more repressive anti-LGBT regimes. In recent months, there has been an increase in arrests and prosecutions under section 347a of its penal code, which criminalizes same-sex sexual acts. The government is preparing to toughen its already harsh penalties against homosexuality by equating them with pedophilia.
Nkom said last week the situation has become "more dangerous" with a rise in illegal arrests and torture.
Cameroon is one of at least 38 of Africa's 54 nations that currently have laws penalizing same-sex relations or even sexuality. Three of the nations—Mauritania, Nigeria and Sudan—boast the death penalty for gays or same-sex activity.
Background:
CAMEROON: Alice Nkom Warns of Rise in Arrests
CAMEROON: 2 Teens, 2 Men Face Trial
2 Gay Youth Arrested for "Looking Feminine"
2 Gay Youth Face Trial for Homosexuality
Air France Refuses to Deport Gay Asylum Seeker
CAMEROON: 3 More Arrests for Homosexuality
Cameroon: Pro-LGBT Attorney Threatened w/ Arrest
Cameroon Sentences Journalist to 6 Months
Cameroon Sentences Three for Homosexuality
Gay Man Imprisoned for Two Years Without Trial
"Homosexuelle en Afrique"
Cameroon Gay Man Re-Arrested
Sick. I was going to say how can people be so proud of being wretched and ignorant. But then, I remember years ago how so many crackas down in the American South were so proud of their inhumanity and violence against Blacks. I guess no matter where they are people are just people... and some of them are beasts.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 23 November 2011 at 14:00
I take back my comment singling out the "American South". You had some vicious ones up here in Chicago, New York, Philthy, Newark, Cincinati and Boston too. Of course, instead of dressing in white sheets and hoods the Yankee ones often dressed in blue uniforms.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 23 November 2011 at 14:46
I agree with Derrick and most and maybe all of these atrocities have been and still are being done in the name of religion. I wish we could do the same things to our enemies and let these monsters know how it feels to get their own "moral"treatment.
Posted by: Jerry | 24 November 2011 at 07:31