A police officer confronted a cross-dresser last week in northwest Cameroon, insulted him and then bludgeoned him out of frustration when the man held his tongue.

Bamenda is located in the English-speaking northwest region of Cameroon. (Map courtesy of Economist.com)

By Steeves Winner

Mur (a pseudonym) is a 34-year-old and resident of Bamenda in the English-speaking northwest region of Cameroon.

Mur is a merchant an effeminate air,who lives in a popular area of ​​the city.

At around 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, on his way to a friend’s house, Mur was wearing panties and showing cleavage.

In the middle of the road, he was stopped by a police officer who demanded to see his national identity card, which Mur presented to him. Despite that cooperation, the policeman grew angry and asked Mur why he was dressed like a woman.

Mur did not answer. Aggravated, the policeman asked him if he was a faggot. Mur remained silent. The officer slapped him twice, punched him in the face and began beating him with his nightstick.-d

Mur called for help, but no one came to rescue the local cross-dresser. Blows from the nightstick left him with extensive injuries, including a broken arm, as well as a broken phone.

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After the attack, the police officer fled. Mur dragged himself home, where a neighbor found him and escorted him to a health center.He was put into intensive care.

Mur wishes he could file a complaint against the police officer but does not know the man’s name.

In any case, because of the current political crisis in the English–speaking region of Cameroon — strikes, protests, violence and repression — residents of Bamenda do not have access to competent public services.

This account is based on information provided by a defender of children’s rights working for the Denis Miki Foundation in Bamenda.

Steeves Winner, the author of this article, is an activist for LGBTI rights in Cameroon who writes under a pseudonym. Contact him at steeves.w@yahoo.com

Source: Rights Africa