Jonas Kimie says he feels more comfortable dressed in women's labeled clothing. Cameroonian officials were less content with his expression. Kimie and another man who dresses in what's considered 'women's' clothing, Franky Ndome, were arrested outside a nightclub in the capital Yaoundé in July 2011 and jailed for a year. Their offense: 'looking gay'.
Yesterday, Yaoundé's Court of Appeal declared the two innocent, releasing them.
"We have been imprisoned for dressing differently," Franky Ndome told Amnesty International last month. Kimie and Ndome say they have been subjected to prejudice and violence by prison authorities and other inmates during their incarceration.
"The Cameroon authorities routinely ignore violence and discrimination against LGBTI people and this must be addressed," said Godfrey Byaruhanga, central Africa researcher at Amnesty International.
More at Amnesty.org
Yesterday, Yaoundé's Court of Appeal declared the two innocent, releasing them.
"We have been imprisoned for dressing differently," Franky Ndome told Amnesty International last month. Kimie and Ndome say they have been subjected to prejudice and violence by prison authorities and other inmates during their incarceration.
"The Cameroon authorities routinely ignore violence and discrimination against LGBTI people and this must be addressed," said Godfrey Byaruhanga, central Africa researcher at Amnesty International.
More at Amnesty.org
Comments
No comments yet. Leave a Comment