Wanted: Issa Mohamed Kamara for Alleged Homosexual Act

BY SAHID SESAY

In Sierra Leone, there is a prevalent belief that homosexuality, lesbianism, and bisexuality (the LGBT lifestyle) are practices driven by foreign influence. On January 24, 2021, Issa Mohamed Kamara vanished after reportedly escaping from an incident where he was allegedly caught engaging in homosexual acts at a location along Kissy Brook Black Hall Road in East Freetown.

Eyewitnesses claim that Issa managed to flee the scene while his partner, Ali Turay, was apprehended, assaulted, and restrained by local youths in the Kissy Brook Community.

When police were alerted to the situation, they found Ali Turay severely injured, but Issa Mohamed Kamara had already disappeared. As of now, inquiries about Ali Turay’s condition continue, and the whereabouts of Kamara remain unknown.

A few Sierra Leoneans who acknowledge knowing someone they think is homosexual indicate that such individuals typically do not disclose their identities publicly, fearing rejection and condemnation from family, friends, and the broader community. In Sierra Leone, homosexuality carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Law enforcement is actively searching for Issa Mohamed Kamara concerning the alleged homosexual act and to gather information about the assault on Ali Turay. Homosexuality remains illegal in Sierra Leone and is widely regarded as a taboo.

The case also evokes memories of Fanny Anne Eddy, an LGBT human rights activist who was tragically murdered in 2004 for her advocacy on behalf of LGBT rights.