Amnesty International calls for abolishment of homosexuality laws in Africa
August 18, 2011
Two men will soon be standing trial in Camaroon for their sexual preference, and human rights activists are calling for the government to rethink its laws on such matters. The Guardian reports that Amnesty International is demanding the immediate release of Jonas and Francky, who are 19 and 20, respectively.
The pair was arrested outside of a nightclub last month in Yaounde, the nation's capital, and are currently being held in the city's central prison while they await their trial. If they are convicted, they could face up to five years in prison.
Camaroon is not the only African nation to have laws against homosexuality, according to the BBC News. With the support of Amnesty International and other human rights groups, the men's lawyer Alice Nkom told the news source that they will both plead not guilty, despite having given confessions to police. She claims that their confessions were forced out of them by police brutality
Nkom also stated that the pair was arrested, not because they were engaging in homosexual acts, but because they had long hair.
You can call Camaroon to talk to your friends about the trial and its implications with an international phone card.