A Cameroon appeals court
upheld a sentence against a
man convicted of
homosexuality for texting his
male friend to say, "I'm very
much in love with you."
Roger Mbede, a university
student, was arrested in March
last year after the man who
received the message tipped off
authorities, Human Rights Watch
said. A court sentenced Mbede to
three years in prison at the time
after he was beaten to coerce a
confession, according to the
group. In July, after more than a
year in detention, Mbede was
released as his case went
through the appeals process, the
rights group said in a
statement.The appeals court
issued its ruling Monday.
"The appeals court decision ... is a
blow to key human rights
principles, including the right to
privacy, the right to equality, and
the prohibition of torture and ill-
treatment," - said Neela Ghoshal,
a researcher at Human Rights
Watch.
"The decision sends a warning to
LGBT Cameroonians that they risk
beatings, arrests, and
imprisonment simply because of
their sexual orientation or
gender identity."
Homosexuality is illegal in most
African countries, where sodomy
laws were introduced during
colonialism. Cameroon's
sentences for homosexual acts
vary between six months to five
years, the rights group said,
citing justice ministry records.
Authorities in the west African
nation were not immediately
available for comment. A series of
countries have criminalized
homosexuality, but prosecutions
are rare. In Uganda, homosexual
acts are punishable by 14 years
to life, but lawmakers are trying
to introduce a bill that toughens
the law. A handful of nations
issue a death penalty for
consensual same-sex relations,
including Sudan, Mauritania,
Saudi Arabia and Iran, according
to the International Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Trans and Intersex
Association.
upheld a sentence against a
man convicted of
homosexuality for texting his
male friend to say, "I'm very
much in love with you."
Roger Mbede, a university
student, was arrested in March
last year after the man who
received the message tipped off
authorities, Human Rights Watch
said. A court sentenced Mbede to
three years in prison at the time
after he was beaten to coerce a
confession, according to the
group. In July, after more than a
year in detention, Mbede was
released as his case went
through the appeals process, the
rights group said in a
statement.The appeals court
issued its ruling Monday.
"The appeals court decision ... is a
blow to key human rights
principles, including the right to
privacy, the right to equality, and
the prohibition of torture and ill-
treatment," - said Neela Ghoshal,
a researcher at Human Rights
Watch.
"The decision sends a warning to
LGBT Cameroonians that they risk
beatings, arrests, and
imprisonment simply because of
their sexual orientation or
gender identity."
Homosexuality is illegal in most
African countries, where sodomy
laws were introduced during
colonialism. Cameroon's
sentences for homosexual acts
vary between six months to five
years, the rights group said,
citing justice ministry records.
Authorities in the west African
nation were not immediately
available for comment. A series of
countries have criminalized
homosexuality, but prosecutions
are rare. In Uganda, homosexual
acts are punishable by 14 years
to life, but lawmakers are trying
to introduce a bill that toughens
the law. A handful of nations
issue a death penalty for
consensual same-sex relations,
including Sudan, Mauritania,
Saudi Arabia and Iran, according
to the International Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Trans and Intersex
Association.
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