Cameroon’s National Communication Council (NCC) has suspended Canal+ Elles, a subsidiary channel of media company Canal+, after accusing the channel of promoting homosexual activities.
The NCC’s President, of Joseph Chebonkeng Kalabubsu, suspended the channel in a communique signed September 22.
“The NCC asks Canal+ to suspend without delay and until further notice its Canal+ Elles channel in Cameroon,” the communique read.
The media regulatory body anchored its decision on the recurrent broadcasting of programs conveying obscene practices with homosexual tendencies.
The NCC issued a warning to Canal+ on June 12, calling on the channel to cease the broadcast of programs with homosexual scenes, but they media organ reportedly failed to respect it.
The NCC says the broadcasting of homosexual scenes on one of Canal+’s sub channels, Canal+ Elles, disregards Cameroonian law and customs.
“The NCC has discovered the recurrent broadcast of certain channels of the Canal+ International group programs which broadcast programs with obscene practices with homosexual tendencies, which goes against our values and law,” the communique read.
“In view of the foregoing and in order to put an end to the above-denounced programs, which promote practices contrary to our laws, as well as to our deaths and customs, the CNC asks Canal+ to suspend without delay and until further notice its Canal+ Elles channel in Cameroon.”
Cameroon is one the 38 African countries that see homosexuality as an abomination. The government has made it clear on several occasions that it does not welcome homosexuality and anything related to it.
Article 347:1 of the Cameroon Penal Code clearly states that anyone found guilty of homosexuality shall be punished with 5 years imprisonment and a fine ranging from FCFA 20,000 to FCFA 200,000frs.
The Cameroon Government has intensified its fight against homosexuality in the recent past.
On June 20 this year, the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, prohibited a confrence-debate on homosexuality that was scheduled to hold in Yaounde.
The conference was being championed by the French Ambassador for the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, Jean-Marc Berthon.
“With regard to the conference-debate theme, it is in total contradiction with the legislation on the subject, in particular the relevant provisions of Article 347-1 of Law N°2016/007 of July 12, 2016, of the Penal Code. While recognising that Ambassador Jean-Marc Berthon can stay in Cameroon at any time, it is not possible to grant him any authorisation in connection with the purpose that motivated his trip,” he stated firmly.
By Washira Helene
