Wilfred Enow Agbor
Yaounde, Cameroon
Recent reports from foreign media project the State of Cameroon as homophobic. To respond to these allegations, the Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakari, explained the country’s stance on homosexuality during a press conference.
In response that Cameroon is cruel towards her homosexual citizens; the Minister reminds foreign media of the Cameroon Penal Code section 347 which states that whoever has
Cameroon Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakari
sexual relations with a person of the same sex shall be punished with imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of twenty to two hundred thousand francs. The Cameroon penal code, according to the Minister, puts homosexuality as an offence that is punishable by the law.
Internationally, the Minister reminded the media that 78 countries consider homosexuality a crime punishable by law. Ten percent of these countries condemn anyone who commits homosexual crimes with a death penalty. However, there are only a few countries that recognize homosexuality. In United States, for example, only 17 out 50 states have recognized homosexuality. In United Kingdom, only Northern Ireland and Great Britain have done the same. In 1968, France called homosexuality a mental illness.
As few western countries accept homosexuality, should Cameroon, therefore, follow the west? The Minister reminded the media that the values of Cameroon people are rooted in their religious beliefs. None of their religions, Christianity or Islam, condones homosexual acts. Therefore the position of the government of Cameroon is to enforce the law on homosexuality.
