I am free! I am a Camerounian activist for LGBTI rights, and was held illegally by a police squad in Douala (the economic capital on the west coast of the country) for seven hours.  I was arrested under charges of conversations against nature with a homophobic taxi-driver.

The altercation was started by the taxi-driver.

When returning from a trip with some friends, we hired a taxi, and during the ride we spoke about subjects relating to LGBTI rights and the need for decriminalization.  From time to time the taxi-driver intervened in our conversation, and I asked for his opinions on the subject.

It was precisely at this moment that the situation took a turn for the worse.

He began driving much faster, shouting that instead of taking me to the final destination I had requested, he would take me to the nearest police station.  When we arrived there, I paid the fare, and he became hysterical, crying out that he works hard with his hands and cannot tolerate homosexual practices.
When I arrived at the police station, it was four o’clock in the morning and the police locked me, barefoot, in a cell with no electricity, and insisted that the locked cell would provide protection. Throughout the hours I remained in custody I was subjected to insults, mocking and sarcasm from the policemen, who demanded to know why I don’t like women, why I prefer men, and “unnatural relations.”

Article 347 of the Cameroun penal code (ordinance n°72/16 of September 28, 1972) punishes by imprisonment from 6 months to 5 years and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 FCFA any person who has sexual relations with someone of the same sex.

At one point the police threatened to insert their fingers into my anus in order to verify whether I am often sodomized, in order to charge me with homosexual activity later.  I forcibly resisted, insisting that anyone who touched me would have to do so over my dead body.

After passing the night in the police cell, I was finally released after requesting legal council, and to be officially charged and placed in custody.

Although this incident was harrowing, I probably won’t consider filing a legal suit. They didn’t touch me physically, it was only the same insults and injuries we suffer daily, so I think I will stop here and hope that it never happens again to anyone.

Sébastien Mandeng is a lawyer in training who interned with the law firm Mes. VIAZZI-AUBRIET-BATTU-NKOM-IPOUCK, all advocates specializing in human rights. He currently works as the vice-president of the Association for the Defense of Homosexuality (ADEFHO).

For more information about this incident, or about the defense of homosexuality in Cameroun, you can contact him directly at adefho@live.com/sebmandeng@yahoo.fr
(Tél : (+237) 75 17 65 24)

Click here to read more about IWHC’s work to advance, protect, and promote women’s and young people’s sexual rights.

This week, I have an update on the status of the case against the man. My organization, the Homosexuality Defense Association, or ADEFHO, just got the minutes from the last interrogation from June 21, 2009, the date the accused appeared before the magistrate.

At present, Alice Nkom (President of ADEFHO), who is representing the defendant, believes that the judge has all the information he needs to allow him to close the investigation on this case, in which it appears that there is no longer a plaintiff or a witness.

The family of the supposed victim hasn’t responded to the summons from the magistrate, and the medical certificate needed to link the accused to the accuser states that there was no evidence of sodomy.

The attorney has in effect proven through her submissions to the court that the prosecution lacks legal bases, while the detainment, arrest, custody and subsequent preventative detention violate the fundamental tenants of the Penal Code.

At this stage of the judicial proceedings, the judge must either close the investigation, or send the defendant to the Tribunal to face trial without charge, without accuser, and without proof.

Ms. Nkom is waiting to see what the judge will do in order to know what the next step will be.

That’s all the information we have right now on this particular case, but I’d like you remind you that, unfortunately, this case is just one more example of a long history of homophobia in Cameroun.  Over a dozen people have been jailed on similar charges in this country since 2005.  All of these arrests were men, but the situation is dire for people of all genders, as most Camerounians don’t acknowledge that women who want to have relationships with other women even exist.

I will certainly continue to keep you posted as we find out more.

Sebastien Mandeng is a candidate to become a lawyer as well as a human rights advocate in Cameroun.  He currently works as the Vice-President of the Homosexuality Defense Association (ADEFHO). For more information about this case, or about defending homosexuality in Cameroun, you can contact him directly at adefho@live.com.

Sébastien Mandeng

This post is also available in French below.

In Cameroun, as in many African countries, the Penal Code states that sexual acts between two people of the same sex is illegal and punishable with six months to five years in prison and a fine of $50 to $500.  In Cameroun, it is believed that homosexuality is an offense, a madness not to be mentioned, the ultimate aberration, and a contradiction to African values and traditions.

Well over a dozen men in Cameroun have been imprisoned on charges of homosexuality since 2005 .  And Cameroun isn’t the only African country where this is happening: in January of this year, nine men were convicted on similar charges in Senegal.   In early May of this year a 28 year-old Camerounian man, whom I’ll call Jean, was arrested after being accused of engaging in acts of homosexuality.  Jean apparently originally denied these claims and was subsequently subjected to eight days of beatings and torture, including being kept in the nude and without visitation rights until he “confessed” to the charges being made against him.  Only after this false admission was made was he allowed clothing and visitation rights.  After three weeks of being held without formal charges against him, he was sentenced by a local judge to continued imprisonment for an undetermined period of time.

I had the opportunity to speak with Jean on May 26^th, and he reported continued beatings by the prison guards, being deprived of meals, and that he is currently sleeping on the floor, which has resulted in several open boils on his backside.

Jean was held for three weeks before formal charges were brought against him, and continues to be held in inhumane and degrading conditions.  Article 119 of Cameroun’s Penal Code states that a person cannot be held without being charged for a crime for more than 96 hours.  Cameroun’s Constitution states that all people have the right to physical and moral integrity as well as be treated with humanity and never subjected to torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatments.  Cameroun has also signed the United Nations “Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.”  It is evident after speaking with Jean that he has been the victim of multiple human rights abuses as well as violations of both Cameroun and international law.

In fact the article condemning homosexuality in Cameroun’s Penal Code was never voted on by Parliament, meaning it is not an official law in our country.  Therefore, homosexuality in Cameroun should not be considered a crime.   On behalf of Jean and LGBTI communities, I would like to urge international communities to help us free Jean and work together to abolish practice in Cameroun that penalizes homosexuality so that we can finally put an end to these egregious human rights violations.  Please send letters of support to Sebastien Mandeng at adefho@live.com or gomencido25@yahoo.fr.  Your support can make a difference both for Jean and LGBTI communities everywhere.

Sebastien Mandeng is a candidate to become a lawyer as well as a human rights advocate in Cameroun.  He currently works as the Vice-President of the Homosexuality Defense Association (ADEFHO).

Un Camerounais Emprisonne Pour Motifs Homosexuels

Au Cameroun, comme dans bon nombre de pays africains et même dans le monde, la Code Pénal pénalise de six mois à cinq ans et d’une amende de à $50 a $500  les pratiques sexuelles entre personnes de même sexe. Au Cameroun, on croit que l’homosexualité est un délit, une folie voire, une aberration ultime et contraire aux valeurs et traditions africaines.

Au Cameroun, plus d’une douzaine personnes accusées de s’être livrées a des actes homosexuels ont été emprisonnées depuis 2005.  Et le Cameroun n’est pas le seul pays ou l’homosexualite est punie; au Sénégal en janvier 2009 neuf hommes ont été inculpes du même crime.  Au début du mois de mai, un homme de 28 ans, que je vais appeler « Jean, » a été accusé et appréhendé pour motif d’homosexualité.  D’abord Jean a déclaré que c’était faux.  Placé en garde à vue pendant huit jours, il était nu, n’avait pas droit aux visites.  Torture il a admit ses pratiques homosexuelles.  Après quoi, il a eu choit aux vêtements et aux visites.  Après trois semaines de garde a vue, le juge local a déclaré que Jean serait emprisonne pour une durée indéterminée.

J’ai parle avec Jean le 26 mai et il m’a dit que les officiers de police judiciaire le battent, qu’il ne fait pas de repas régulièrement et qu’il dort parterre ce que a provoqué une éruption cutanée suivie d’une apparition de furoncles au niveau des fesses.

Jean a passe trois semaines en détention avant des charge aient été portées contre lui.  Il continue a être traité de façon inhumaine et humiliante.  L’article 119 du nouveau code de procédure pénale énonce que : « Le délai de la garde à vue ne peut excéder quarante huit heures (48) renouvelable une fois ». Or Jean a passé plus de trois semaines en garde à vue.  La Constitution du Cameroun stipule que « Toute personne a droit à l’intégrité physique et morale. Elle doit être traitée en toute circonstance avec humanité. En aucun cas, elle ne peut être soumise à la torture, à des peines ou traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants ».  En outre l’État du Cameroun a ratifié la Convention contre la Torture et autres peines ou traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants. Dans le cas de Jean il est évident que les droits humains ont été violes et que les lois camerounaises et internationales n’ont pas été respectées.

Effectivement, l’article qui condamne l’homosexualité dans la Code Pénal n’a pas été voté par le Parlement et, par conséquent, n’est pas une loi de la République.  C’est-a-dire que l’homosexualité ne doit pas être un crime au Cameroun.

Au nom de Jean et la communauté Lesbiennes, Gays, Bisexuelles, Transsexuelles et Intersexuelles (LGBTI), je voudrais encourager la communauté internationale à s’impliquer davantage dans l’abolition des pratiques de pénalisation au Cameroun.  Pour soutenir cette cause humanitaire écrivez à Sébastien MANDENG à adefho@live.com ou gomencido25@yahoo.fr.  Vos efforts feront une différence pour Jean et la communauté LGBTI dans le monde.

Sébastien Mandeng est postulant dans un cabinet d’avocat et activiste de droits humains au Cameroun.  Il est à présent Vice-président de l’Association pour la Défense de l’Homosexualité (ADEFHO).