Four young gay Muslim men in northern Cameroon are facing prison sentences after being accused of watching gay-themed films. They have already spent six months in detention without trial.
According to Erasing 76 Crimes, the men – identified by the pseudonyms Sabir (24), Dom (23), Yabby (25) and Sol (23) – have suffered significant weight loss in prison, especially Sabir and Dom.
They were reportedly turned in to the police by the imam of their local mosque after being caught watching what was described as a “homosexual video.”
The imam is said to have acted after other mosque members expressed suspicion about the men’s sexual orientation.
On 12 January 2025, the four were arrested and placed in pre-trial detention at Maroua Prison. While some friends have visited them, their families have distanced themselves.
At the time of their arrest, all four were unemployed and living at home with their families. A hearing was held in April, but their situation remains unchanged.
Fears for Safety Behind Bars
The men say they need to pay guards 100,000 CFA francs (about US$177) to ensure protection from homophobic fellow prisoners. They describe the prison conditions as especially dangerous for people accused of being gay.
Project Not Alone is working to raise funds for their release. An unpaid lawyer representing the men says their arrest rests largely on the imam’s testimony and that the evidence is far too weak to justify a conviction. However, he warns that homophobia in Cameroon is severe and widespread.
Negotiating Their Freedom
The lawyer has negotiated a possible pre-trial settlement that would see the men freed if each pays 250,000 CFA francs (about US$436). This is down from an earlier 300,000 CFA francs, but still exceeds the maximum statutory fine for violating Article 347-1 of Cameroon’s Penal Code, which prescribes fines between 20,000 and 200,000 CFA francs (about US$35 to US$350). Under this deal, the men would serve no additional prison time.
Details on making a donation to help secure the release of Sabir, Dom, Yabby and Sol can be found here.
A Law That Fuels Stigma
Under Cameroon’s Penal Code, consensual same-sex relations carry prison sentences of up to five years. The law continues to criminalise, stigmatise and marginalise the LGBTIQ+ community.
In October 2024, four LGBTIQ+ activists arrested in Cameroon were subjected to forced anal examinations – a discredited and degrading practice purportedly used to “prove” homosexuality.
