By Alhaji Turay
In Sierra Leone, members of the LGBTQ+ community live under constant fear, hoping for a future where they can enjoy freedom and acceptance. However, legal and cultural barriers, reinforced by deeply rooted religious beliefs, make this hope seem remote. Under the country’s colonial-era laws, same-sex relationships are criminalized, with the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861 imposing life imprisonment as the maximum penalty for same-sex acts. LGBTQ+ individuals face arrest, detention, and widespread discrimination, including harassment, blackmail, family rejection, and threats of violence.
In one recent and alarming incident, Abdulai Bangura and Mohamed Kamara, a gay couple, found themselves the target of mob violence. According to community sources in Jui Junction, a popular social gathering point in eastern Freetown, the attack took place on March 15, 2023. Abdulai had come from Korsor Town to visit Mohamed at his residence. In a moment of privacy, the two became intimate, unaware that a neighbor had entered their room. The neighbor, upon seeing them, raised an alarm that quickly drew in the community.
The response was swift and brutal. Community members descended upon Abdulai and Mohamed, attacking them with accusations of bringing shame to the neighborhood. The couple sustained severe injuries before the police arrived on the scene, taking them to the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital for medical treatment. Following their hospital admission, police seized one of their phones and planned to charge them with public nuisance, as same-sex relationships are considered taboo in the country.
Their stay at the hospital lasted two weeks until a fire unexpectedly broke out nearby. During the commotion, as staff scrambled to secure hospital documents, Abdulai and Mohamed seized the chance to escape, knowing their lives were in danger if they returned to their community. Community elders confirmed that the police issued an arrest warrant on April 1, 2023, calling for their immediate apprehension.
This incident highlights the extreme risks faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Sierra Leone, who often must live in hiding to avoid violence and arrest. With their families disowning them, and community members threatening mob justice, Abdulai and Mohamed now live in constant fear, cut off from any support system.
The case underscores the urgent need for societal dialogue on human rights protections for all individuals, irrespective of sexual orientation. As of now, Abdulai and Mohamed remain on the run, seeking safety in a society that views their love as a crime.
