Anti-gay Cameroonians target LGBTI rights activists

During renewed national discussions of Cameroon’s anti-homosexuality law, anti-gay Cameroonians have targeted, threatened and harassed LGBTI rights advocates, some of whom were driven from their homes.

Alternatives-Cameroon, the Douala-based advocacy organization that fights against Aids and for recognition of the human rights of LGBTI people, reported the harassment in a press release:

Homosexuality in Cameroon:
When social media become a danger for LGBTI activists

A revision of the Penal Code in Cameroon in recent days has fueled a resurgence of homophobia in social media. The root cause is that the new version of the Penal Code not only retains the old version’s criminalization of homosexuality, but even strengthens it.

Parliament’s approval of the revised Penal Code on June 28 fueled increasingly homophobic sentiments that appeared on social media in Cameroon. The revised version of the Penal Code has maintained the provision that criminalizes sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex. [Article 347-1 of Bill N° 989/PJL/AN]

During discussions of the proposed new Penal Code, LGBTI activists had already begun to suffer mostly violent comments in the media and on social networks. This media exposure of LGBTI advocates sparked anti-gay attitudes.

Thus, since early June, photos and videos of members of Alternatives- Cameroon have been going the rounds of social networks. In a documentary video made in 2014 by the Africagay Against Aids network to lay the groundwork for advocacy against homophobia and HIV/Aids in Africa, the president of Alternatives-Cameroon and the international director/coordinator of the AfricaGay network were recognized by online computer users, suffered slander and were threatened.

In addition, on the night of June 27-28, photos of five other members of Alternatives-Cameroon appeared on social networks. They were maligned and threatened online. Some were driven from their homes and others had to flee hostile neighbors. Now they are homeless, living temporarily with relatives.

The safety of LGBTI activists in Cameroon has been seriously threatened.

Above all, Cameroon’s digital security law penalizes electronic messages related to homosexuality. [See Article 83 of Law N°2010/012 of December 21, 2010, on Cybersecurity and Cybercriminality.]

See Also

Ghana abuzz as parliament begins debate of harsh anti-LGBTQ bill

We denounce:

• These serious violations of fundamental rights of LGBTI people, and regret that Cameroon is rowing against the current of fundamental rights of security, freedom and privacy;
• This new wave of institutionalized homophobia.

We ask:

• The President of the Republic to stay the enactment of this criminal law that violates citizens’ fundamental rights.
• Parliament to take effective measures to ensure the protection of sexual minorities and their supporters.

Related articles on this blog:

• Renewal of anti-gay law would move Cameroon backwards July 5, 2016
• African/U.S. appeal for Cameroon’s girls, LGBTI youths July 6, 2016
• Cameroon: New criminal code, same old homophobia July 1, 2016