Loic Midrel Njeukam popular known as Shakiro and Mouthe Roland alias Patricia have both been handed a five-year jail sentence each.
After series of court hearings, the Court of First Instance, Bonanjo – in Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala made its judgement – finding the two suspects guilty of homosexuality.
Shakiro and Patricia were on February 8th, 2021, arrested in Douala, Cameroon and charged with homosexuality, indecency and non-possession of national identity cards.
Besides the 5-year jail terms, the court also gave them a fine of 200,000frs each.
They will both serve 12 extra months behind bars if they fail to pay the fines.
Cameroon’s hostile laws against homosexuals
The gay community in the central African nation has constantly been under threats and attacks. A Human Rights Watch report had condemned the prosecution of gays in Cameroon, stating that they were being victimized. Rights defenders like Barrister Nkom have urged the Yaounde government to accord fair treatment to homosexual like any other citizen in the country.
In one of their previous hearings, the state prosecutor said Shakiro had in the past uploaded videos of “himself” on social media claiming to be a woman and “has the right to behave as such.”
“I am a woman, I feel like a woman, it is not my fault that I feel this way,” said Shakiro in the YouTube video.
Shakiro and Patricia had been compared by many in Cameroon to the likes of Bobrisky, a Nigerian crossdresser.
© Mimi Mefo Info
Cameroon: Two crossdressers slammed 5-year jail terms for homosexuality
