GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST MURDERED IN CAMEROON

Journalist and gay rights activist Eric Ohena Lembembe was found tortured and killed at his home in Cameroon, just days after issuing a public warning about ‘anti gay thugs’ in the press.

Human Rights Watch has reported that Lembembe’s friends became concerned for his wellbeing when they had not had any contact from him in two days. Arriving at his house on Monday night to investigate, the friends discovered Lembembe’s body.

According to the friends, Lembembe looked as though he had been tortured – his neck and feet appeared to be broken and he had been burned with an iron.

Lembembe was a prominent figure in the African community, well known for his struggle to assist in achieving rights for Africa’s citizens, he was the director of the human rights organization CAMFAIDS.

Lembembe worked tirelessly to raise awareness for LGBTI rights documenting arrests, blackmail and violence against members of Cameroon’s LGBT community on a weekly blog.

"Eric was an inspiring activist whose work was deeply appreciated by human rights activists in Cameroon and around the world," said Human Rights Watch senior LGBT rights researcher Neela Ghoshal. 

Police are investigating Lembembe’s murder but LGBTI rights groups and Human Rights Watch are doubtful his killer will be brought to justice given the track record of local police when it comes to handling hate crimes.

Comments Ghoshal: "It remains to be seen whether the police will carry out a serious investigation into this matter."