Cameroonian LGBT Activist; Bandy Kiki strongly condemns the imprisonment of two Cameroonian cross dressers for practicing homosexuality & wants them released & the anti-Homosexual law in Cameroon be repealed
Popular UK based Cameroonian LGBT activist; Emily Banadzem (AKA Kiki Bandy) has strongly condemned the arrest of two Cameroonian cross dressers for practicing homosexuality adding that she will be working closely with an LGBT organization in Cameroon to ensure that they are released and the law criminalizing homosexuality in Cameroon be repealed for homosexuality to be legal in Cameroon.
This is coming less than 24 hours after news emerged on the social media that a popular Cameroonian crossdresser; Djeukam Loi Midrel (popularly known on social media as Shakiro/Cameroon’s Bobrisky)… and two homosexuals, have been arrested and locked up at the Douala New Bell Prison for practicing homosexuality.
According to Cameroon News Agency, the court of first instance in Ndokotti Douala (on Tuesday, February 9) later found them guilty for practicing homosexuality which is a crime in Cameroon.
In a write up published on the social media less than 48 hours after the incident, Bandy Kiki wrote…
“I strongly condemn the arrest of two Cameroonians for “practising homosexuality” in Douala. I am also worried about their fate as they are already being subjected to torture and verbal abuse at the New Bell Prison. This arrest echoes Cameroon’s history of indiscriminate targeting people on the basis of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Will be working closely with @ourwellbeingcameroon237 to ensure their release and/or help where possible.
We will not be erased!
#repealsection347 #lgbtcameroon #homophobia #repeal347/1
Working For Our Wellbeing(WFW) is a non-profit organization working for the well-being and the respect of #lgbt rights in Cameroon.”
To match words with action, Bandy Kiki has launched a fund raising campaign on the Go Fund Me website with a goal to raise £1500; which will be used to fight for the release of the Shakiro and two cross dressers locked up in Kondengui. As of February, 12, 2021, 16 people have donated, £540 pounds to support the campaign less than 24 hours after the campaign was launched. One donor offered a whooping sum of £400.
From the information published by Kiki Bandy on the Go Fund Me Campaign Page, we learnt that on February 10, 2021 (1 day after Shakiro and Co were imprisoned) the Organization made an attempt secure their release at the court of first instance in Douala but efforts were futile.
In the writeup published on the Go Fund Me page, Kiki Bandy also revealed that the case has been postponed to March 10, 2021….and Shakiro and Co are currently in pre-trial detention at the notorious New Bell prison where they are being subjected to torture and verbal abuse by prison guards and other prisoners.
Bandy Kiki also revealed that money raised through Go Fund Me would be used to ensure they have basic needs like food, health care and transportation for their lawyer(s) who has generously agreed to handle the case pro bono.
However, given the fact that homosexuality is banned in Cameroon, many Cameroonians doubt if she would be able to achieve her objective.
Article 347-1 of the current Cameroon penal code is clear and states that:
“Homosexuality is punished with imprisonment of six months to five years and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 FCFA. It concerns anyone who has sex with a person of their gender ”.
The Cameroonian Government, despite numerous international pressures, maintains the criminal sanction against homosexuality.
Nevertheless, just like many Cameroonians always say, impossible n’est pas camerounais.
Our ears are still on the ground, we shall bring you more information as the story unfolds.
View this post on Instagram
Comments
0 comments
