Cameroon: After anti-gay raids, court frees 2, sends 6 back to prison
Police in Cameroon had arrested 60+ in anti-gay crackdown on Aug. 23
A Cameroon court on Sept. 7 sent six men, ages 22 to 38, back to prison to await trial on homosexuality charges.
Two 18-year-olds were released and the case against a minor, age 16, was transferred to the Ndokoti civil court, which has jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency.
All nine were among more than 60 people who were arrested on the night of Aug. 23 during police raids in the Makepe and Bourramoussadi neighborhoods of Douala, Cameroon. The arrestees, who all had been identified or simply perceived as homosexual, were taken to various police stations and, except for the nine men, were promptly released.
A police commander justified the operation by saying that homosexuals were present at a local bar that maintained rooms used for sexual relations. Police said they raided the bar and found condoms, lubricants, and sex toys in the bar’s private rooms.
In a police search of one man’s home, police said they found military underwear and other items. That led to a charge of illegal possession and wearing of military equipment.
On Sept. 3, nine arrestees were sent to New Bell Central Prison in Douala.
On Sept. 7, they returned to the Douala military court for a hearing on charges of homosexuality, illegal possession and wearing of military equipment, corruption of minors, and failure to possess a national identity card.
After consulting with the defendants’ families who were present in the courthouse, the court demanded 200,000 CFA francs per person (about US$355) for each defendant’s provisional release. Four families paid this sum. Four defendants have no family support.
The appointed lawyer, Arnaud Enkam Noubissi, is attempting to challenge the jurisdiction of the military court and have the case transferred to the Ndokoti civil court.
Human rights advocates are working to:
- Gather 800,000 CFA francs (ab\ut US $1,419) for the provisional release of the four remaining individuals.
- Raise 600,000 CFA francs (about US $1,064 ) for continuing legal representation for the defendants.
- Provide the prisoners with medical care, psychological and social support, in particular for the imprisoned minor.
