Cameroon court has released 12 of 13 arrested in Sept. 30 raid
Workers at Alternative Cameroon are at home awaiting trial on homosexuality charges
The court in Douala, Cameroon, has now released all but one of the 13 people who were arrested on homosexuality-related charges after a Sept. 30 police raid on the offices of Alternatives Cameroon, which combats HIV and advocates for LGBTI rights.
During a hearing on Dec. 18, the judges ordered the provisional release of two of the three remaining prisoners — Oumarou Ousmanou and Fotie Zidane, peer educators for Alternatives Cameroon. A request for their provisional release pending trial had been denied in November. The youths’ families paid 200,000 CFA francs (about $318) to cover administrative costs of their release.
The remaining prisoner at New Bell Prison is Alternatives Cameroon psychological counselor Denis Watonwa, who is accused of having sexual relations with a boy at the group’s offices. That unnamed youth, who accused Watonwa of luring him into a sexual relationship, told the court through his lawyers that he did not know Zidane, Oumarou or former detainee Hermine Ngo Ndaptie.
She had been granted provisional release in October because of ill health.
The original 13 people were arrested on the grounds of promoting transgender identity, promoting homosexuality, abuse, and illegal practice of medicine. Nine of them were released and four were transferred to prison on charges of indecent assault on a minor and complicity in homosexuality.
During the four others’ detention, several local and international partners provided support, including payment of lawyers’ fees, psychological support, food deliveries and arranging for improved security within the prison.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Jan. 22.
