As this blog reported yesterday, Jamaican activist Javed Jaghai has ended his challenge to Jamaica’s anti-sodomy law. Here’s why: “I am no longer willing to gamble with my life or the lives of my parents and siblings.” — Javed Jaghai In a signed affadavit to the Supreme Court of Judicature of Jamaica, plaintiff Javed … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: August 2014
Jamaican activist ends challenge to anti-sodomy law
The Associated Press reports: A young Jamaican gay rights activist who brought an unprecedented legal challenge to the Caribbean island’s anti-sodomy law has withdrawn the claim after growing fearful about violent backlashes, advocacy groups and colleagues said Friday. Last year, Javed Jaghai made headlines after initiating a constitutional court challenge to Jamaica’s 1864 law that … Continue reading
Sierra Leone threat: Stop activism or we’ll spread ebola rumor
Front Line Defenders, which supports human rights activists, issued this press release on Aug. 28: Sierra Leone – Threats against human rights defender Ms Mary Conteh On 28 August 2014, human rights defender Ms Mary Conteh received a call from an unknown number where the caller threatened to spread false information that she contracted Ebola … Continue reading
Jamaican police propose LGBT shelter, raid gully again
Jamaican police have again raided the gully where dozens of homeless LGBT youth have taken refuge. Police have often raided the storm water diversion gully, sometimes called a sewer, even though a Jamaican court ruled in March that the youths, who have nowhere else to go, have a right to be there because gullies are … Continue reading
Ghana student faces anti-gay threats, so police arrest him
Police in northern Ghana in West Africa have arrested a 21-year-old student in response to area residents’ threats that they would kill him for wearing women’s clothing, having gay sex and seeking gay partners. The police commander in the small town of Walewale, capital of the West Mamprusi district, said police arrested Yakubu Abdul Kadrito, … Continue reading
Warning: Lebanon police call to entrap gay suspects
Lebanese police have intensified their campaign against LGBTI people by using arrestees’ mobile phones to try to entrap other allegedly gay men, according to Helem, Lebanon’s LGBTQI advocacy organisation. Helem issued this warning today: URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Helem has learned that the Hobeich police station has been arresting individuals in Beirut and going through their WHATSAPP … Continue reading
Uncategorized
’76 Crimes’ on radio: The latest battles for LGBTI justice
The Erasing 76 Crimes blog and the anti-gay laws of 76-plus countries moved to center stage last weekend during a 15-minute interview of editor/publisher Colin Stewart on the radio show/podcast “State of Belief.” The show’s host, the Rev. Welton Gaddy, called the blog “an invaluable resource” and then asked about: Why LGBT rights were … Continue reading
12 still in Lebanese jail 17 days after Turkish bath raid
Twelve men remain in detention 17 days after at total of 27 people were arrested at a Turkish bath during an Aug. 9 raid by Lebanon’s national police and security force. Helem, Lebanon’s LGBTQI advocacy organisation, provided that update today, citing the gay-friendly Lebanese human rights group The Legal Agenda. Helem stated: “An article on … Continue reading
Comment: Africa isn’t anti-gay, ‘just hopelessly confused’
An insightful commentary in the pan-African publication Mail & Guardian Africa notes not only that African countries are far from united in their attitudes toward homosexuality, but also that many individual countries have self-contradictory laws. An excerpt from the article “Forgive it. Africa is not anti-gay; the continent is just hopelessly confused”: In Cote d’Ivoire, … Continue reading
Cameroon lesbians freed after 9 months awaiting trial
Two lesbians in southern Cameroon were released on Aug. 22 after nine months in prison awaiting trial on homosexuality charges. On Aug. 21, Liliane and Nicole each received a two-year prison sentence, which was converted into a three-year suspended sentence, according to their attorney, Michel Togué. In November 2013, the women were arrested and jailed … Continue reading
