Man sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for homosexuality in Cameroon

Homosexuality is outlawed in Cameroon and punishable under Section 347 bis of the Cameroon Penal Code (CPC) with up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 francs CFA. A lot has been written about the persecution of homosexuals in Cameroon and both national and international human rights organizations have urged Cameroon to decriminalize homosexuality. Despite these loud calls, the authorities have turned a deaf ear. A recent arrest, trial and conviction of a Cameroonian man has once again put the plight of homosexuals in Cameroon on the spotlight.

A Cameroonian male, identified by Human Rights Watch as Roger Jean-Claude Mbede, was arrested on 2 March 2011 in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon. Roger was reportedly held in Gendarme custody for 7 days without being charged - in violation of national law which stipulates that arrested persons should not be held in custody for more than 48 hours without being charged.

After 7 days in unlawful custody, Roger was transferred to Yaounde Central Prison. He was found guilty of homosexuality and sentenced to 3 years in prison by the Court of First Instance in Yaounde on 28 April 2011.

Roger Jean-Claude Mbide is currently imprisoned in the Central Prison in Yaounde.

Disturbingly, many Cameroonians are in favor of Section 347, ignoring the fact that the law is repugnant to equity and good conscience and alienates a vulnerable group of Cameroonians - many of whom have been forced underground, tortured, extorted, imprisoned or forced  to seek asylum abroad. This conflicts with Cameroon's obligations under international law.

Cameroon's "sodomy law" infringes on the privacy and other fundamental freedoms of individuals, including their right to free expression and equal protection of the law. It's in this vein that Human Rights Watch and two national organizations have written an open letter to Cameroon's Minister of Justice, Delegate General of Security and Secretary of State for Defense, condemning the imprisonment of Roger Jean-Claude Mbide and urging the three leaders to do the following:

• Review Section 347 of the CPC.
• Investigate recent conviction under the law.
• Stop arrests under Section 347 of the penal code.
• Over turn the conviction of Roger Jean-Claude Mbide.
• Uphold the rights of all Cameroonians to a life of dignity and equality.

My upbringing frowns on same-sex. However, as a matter of principle, I respect and defend the rights and freedoms of all individuals without distinction of any kind. Consenting adults in a private relationship should not be subjected to arrests, ridicule, torture, verbal or physical abuse, extortion, and imprisonment.

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Malawi: Protect, Don't Convict Homosexuals

On 18 May 2010, a gay couple in Malawi was slammed with 14 years in prison with hard labour. What does this verdict represent - justice or injustice? Should Malawi protect or convict homosexuals?

The couple - Steven Monjeza, 26 years old, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20 years old, were convicted for gay sex - an act considered to be "against the order of nature". As strange as this may sound, gay sex remains a crime in Malawi.

Not surprisingly, the conviction has been celebrated by many Africans, including religious groups - who consider homosexuality to be a taboo and a flawed way of life influenced by Western values. No doubt, many see the fight for gay rights in Africa and other parts of the world as an attempt by Western democracies to force African countries and other developing countries to accept homosexuality as a way of life.

Believe it or not - when all is said and done, Steven and Tiwonge will not be welcomed home - in the southern town of Machinjiri. They will be rejected by their friends and relatives - simply because their sexual orientation is considered to be a taboo. The government of Malawi understands the danger they face. This explains why the couple was allegedly denied bail after their arrest in December 2009.

According to a survey by The Pew Research Centre for the People and the Press, Africans are overwhelmingly hostile towards homosexuality. The survey reveals a high percentage of people who argue that homosexuality should not be accepted in the following African countries:

• Kenya ------------------------------------- 99%
• Senegal ------------------------------------ 98%
• Mali --------------------------------------- 96%
• Ghana ------------------------------------- 93%
• Nigeria ------------------------------------ 95%
• Uganda ------------------------------------ 95%
• Ivory Coast -------------------------------- 84%
• Angola ------------------------------------- 62%
• South Africa --------------------------------63%

Malawi should amend the Stone Age law that criminalizes homosexuality and take necessary steps to protect; not convict homosexuals! There is no denying that homosexuals are an endangered minority group in Malawi and many other countries in Africa. They are persecuted by governments that have the obligation to protect them and rejected by their communities - including family and friends. In Africa, homosexuals stand between the devil and the deep blue sea!

Despite the blow to human rights and gay rights - delivered by the verdict of Magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa Usiwa in the case of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga and the state of Malawi, neighboring Uganda, according to cameroononline.org, has made a move in the right direction - by recommending the withdrawal of a controversial Anti-Gay Bill. This is an indication that slowly, but surely, Malawi and other African states with hard-line gay laws will protect; not convict homosexuals.

Personally - as an African, I grew up in a society where homosexuality is a taboo and I am yet to understand the sexual orientation, but without jeopadizing my religious views and moral standing - I advocate freedom of choice, the right to privacy and all other human rights and fundamental freedoms. Under no circumstance should homosexuality constitute a crime - especially when it involves two consenting adults.

*Photo by Eldson Chagara/Reuters extracted from guardian.co.uk

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