Cameroon: Gay man lured into a violent trap
Fateful rendezvous was arranged through an online dating service
A young LGBTI man was violently attacked on the night of Oct. 12 in the Biteng sous manguier neighborhood of Yaoundé.
The incident was described to Erasing 76 Crimes by a friend of the victim, who is identified here by a pseudonym for his safety.
Bryan, 23, a cook living alone, had gone to a meeting arranged through an online dating app. There, he was lured by his online acquaintance to a secluded spot where four accomplices were waiting.
Accused of being homosexual, Bryan was attacked, humiliated, robbed of his valuables, and beaten. His assailants stripped him naked and left him alone in dire need of medical attention. Thanks to the intervention of passersby, he was able to contact his older sister by phone. The passersby took him to a hospital for treatment.
Police were not contacted for fear that they would arrest Bryan on homosexuality charges rather than track down his attackers.
His sister, who found him at the hospital, said, “When I received his call, his voice was weak, almost inaudible. He lost consciousness. I found him in a state I will never forget. He had lost a lot of blood and was traumatized.”
A close friend, also a member of the LGBTI community, stated: “Bryan is a discreet person. He doesn’t hurt anyone. What happened to him shows that we are never safe. We live in constant fear.”
A neighbor added: “He is a hard-working young man, always smiling. Seeing him in this state is a shock to all of us. It proves that hatred continues to destroy lives.”
The author’s viewpoint: What this means for Cameroon
This incident illustrates once again the vulnerability of LGBTI people in Cameroon, where homosexuality remains criminalized under Article 347-1 of the Penal Code.
Victims of homophobic violence are often deprived of police protection and their attackers often go unpunished.
Bryan’s attack is a reminder of the urgent need to strengthen solidarity, protection and advocacy for the human rights and dignity of all people, without distinction.
