Cameroon: Court Upholds Unjust 'Homosexuality' Conviction - Decision Demonstrates Urgency of Moratorium On Gay Arrests

Nairobi — A Cameroonian appeals court decision on December 17, 2012, upholding a criminal conviction for homosexuality demonstrates that basic human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are under assault in Cameroon, Human Rights Watch said today. The court upheld the conviction and three-year prison sentence for Roger Jean-Claude Mbede, a university student charged with homosexuality, and ordered his arrest.

Cameroon should declare a moratorium on arrests and convictions under article 347 bis of the Cameroonian penal code, which criminalizes "sexual relations with a person of the same sex," Human Rights Watch said. The article violates international law, including the right to privacy.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.