The latest attack on Hamidu Jalloh by his uncle and family members backed up by the support of the Sierra Leone police clearly vindicate how gay people are being humiliated, molested and ill-treated in the length and breadth of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone is a country dominated by Muslims and with more traditional beliefs it society is yet to accept gay people; and as a result all those that are into it are been haunted down like wild animals on a daily basis by authorities and the communities using out dated traditional beliefs and Islamic laws. Due to that most of them have been force to exile as a result of family and communities’ attacks and the cruel and ill police pressure, which have lead to the loss of many innocent lives of victims.
On Sunday 5th May 2019 the victim was surprised with a special party organised for him by his boyfriend at his resident in sheriff drive Lumley as a gesture and appreciation to their long-standing and unbreakable relationship. According to the victim(Hamidu) an hour into the party a group of armed police officers, his uncle, family members and the community people busted into the scene and attacked them and they were massless beaten and molested and most of them were brutally ill.
Our investigation reveals that two of Hamidu’s friends ended up fracturing their legs whiles trying to scale from a 12ft fence which have left them in permanent disability and he sustained several internal pains from the beaten he received while also trying to scale the fence. According to Yusuf one of the party attenders who were arrested stated that Hamidu’s Uncle (Sheikh Alphajor Jalloh) who is the chief Imam at the Kingtom Bridge Mosque informed the Police noting that it was based upon that information that the premises was raided, since such gatherings are illegal in Sierra Leone and we tried to interview the Police but they refused to comment.
Sheikh Alphajor said that it’s against the beliefs of Islam to practice gay and an abomination and disgrace to his family. “I’m a practical Muslim and he knows that coming from a practical Muslim home, his way of life is intolerable and disgrace”. As it’s right now the police have declared him wanted dead or alive and members of the community and his uncle are also issuing death threats.
Thursday May 09,2019
By Josephine Lee