TWO JAILED IN CAMEROON

Two men have been jailed for having gay sex in the African country of Cameroon. The men apparently confessed to having had sex with each other, which resulted in a jail term of a year imposed by the courts. Homosexuality is illegal in the country.

Reports say that the affair between the men came to light after one of the men went to the police complaining about a dispute over a stolen cell phone. He said that he had been tricked into having sex with the other man on the basis of a promise, which was not kept, that he would be helped to get to Europe. They were both subsequently arrested. Homosexual behaviour is punishable by up to five years in prison in Cameroon.

In related news, two publishers of Cameroonian tabloid newspapers are facing defamation charges after publishing the names of around 50 public and political figures, who they accused of being gay or having homosexual sex. Sensationalistic headlines included examples such as “Gays are among us”, which resulted in sell-out editions.

At the time, the publications claimed that they were merely exposing “deviant behaviour”.