Somali man fears for his life after being outed at work
Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran living in Southern…
A life lived with fear at home and at work
Mohsen (pseudonym), a 25-year-old gay Somali man, wrote to Erasing 76 Crimes to seek help. We have no means to verify the specifics of his heart-rending account, but it is similar to what many gay Africans undergo.
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My name is Mohsen, 25 year old and I am gay.
My family and my friends do not know that. Do you know what it feels to hide your feelings for more than ten years? I can’t touch a woman — no one from my family sees me talking to a girl that’s why my family suspects me. One day I met a wonderful man, a kind and gentle person. He loves me very much. I fell in love with him while I was in Mogadishu. We used to meet secretly. My family, Somali government and the Islamic Youth Movement are against homosexuals.
![Somalia's location in Africa.](https://76crimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/somalia-large_locator.gif)
As a cook I was at work and an order came quickly so I had to go and serve him. I forgot my unlocked phone on the table. One of my friends saw a conversation of my boyfriend. When he saw me he threw my phone at me and yelled at me after seeing Gay pictures. Thereafter he started threatening me and tells my friends at work …. I was afraid for the news spread quickly. So I stayed at home
This happened two weeks ago many people know that I am gay. I’m very scared for the Islamic Youth Movement will know that I am gay They will kill me. If my father finds out he will kill me or any of my uncles. Now I don’t go to work, I don’t go out. I am in a Muslim country and everyone will hate me. Even my mother will hate me and disown me. Please help me,
I beg you please save my life….There is one more thing I cannot talk to a Somali man because he is a Muslim. If I tell him I’m a gay I need help He won’t help me He will even tell the police. There are religious organizations that are proud of killing homosexuals If they find out about me, they will kill me . Please save me. I cannot sleep and I can’t eat. I’m very scared and terrified.
Qtalk plea: My lover started dating my best friend. What can I do?