In an open letter yesterday, Human Rights Watch demanded that Cameroon President Paul Biya address the issue without delay.
Text messages
Cameroonian human rights lawyers Alice Nkom and Michel Togu first received death threats in October, reports Gay Star News. The threats came in emails and text messages, attacking the lawyers for their work defending clients charged with homosexuality.
According to the report, consensual same-sex conduct is criminalised under the Cameroonian penal code, and at least 28 people have been prosecuted under the law since 2010.
Ms Nkom and Mr Togué are among the only lawyers who have agreed to take up these cases in a country where homophobia is widespread.
‘Minds are changing’
Neela Ghoshal, researcher in the LGBT Rights Program at HRW, commented: ‘Since October, the Cameroonian authorities have been aware of death threats against the two lawyers, and they apparently have done absolutely nothing in response.
‘The failure to investigate and publicly condemn the threats sends the wrong signal to those responsible for these ugly messages.’
HRW has demanded that president Biya speak publicly to condemn the death threats, and make clear that threats of violence against alleged gays and lesbians and the lawyers that represent them are reprehensible and will not be tolerated.
The president recently stated that ‘minds are changing’ in the country regarding homosexuality, said Ms Ghoshal, adding that the government should take the lead by sending consistent messages that homophobic threats and violence are unacceptable.
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