By John Bundu
NP Fuel dealer Ibrahim Rashid Kamara is presently on the run to save his life after he was caught having sex with his gay partner at his family residence in Freetown.
In a telephone interview with this medium Ibrahim disclosed that his family and community members are presently in search of him after they discovered he is gay.
“Am a fuel dealer helping at NP Petrol Station at Up Gun in the Western Area Urban of Sierra Leone. I live at our family home at Fourah Bay, a community mainly dominated by Muslims. I am a Muslim but I choose to be gay for personal reasons.”
“I used to have sexual affair with my gay partner in my room anytime I get the urge for sex. On 12th July, 2017; I was caught having sex with my gay partner by my uncle who shouted and alert everyone at home and the community about it. In few minutes my room was jam packed with family members and community people. We were mercilessly beaten, dragged and meted with degrading and inhuman treatment.”
“At night they resolved to take us to the police station as male homosexuality is still illegal in Sierra Leone. On our way to the police I narrowly manage to escape from them and enter a near by gutter with a route leading to other communities. They later discovered my hideout and went after me again.”
“Because of this I had to flee the country to save my life. I have no intention to return home for I might not live to tell the story.” He concluded.
Fourah Bay is a community in Freetown that is dominated by practicing Muslims. It is one of the few communities in Sierra Leone where Christians are not allowed to build churches or burry their dead relatives in the community cemetery.
Male homosexuality in Sierra Leone was outlawed by the British in 1861 and never subsequently legalised. The offence carries a life sentence, although this is not enforced. The LGBT community is terrorised by the state, and by vigilantes who go unchecked. They are imprisoned, beaten, tortured, and killed
