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The New York Times
World
3 Sentenced in
Cameroon for Being Gay
By AP from
nytimes.com on the Web, January 16, 2008
YAOUNDE, Cameroon -- Three men
convicted of homosexuality -- a crime in Cameroon -- were sentenced to six
months' hard labor, their lawyer said Wednesday.
Lazare Baeeg, Emmanuel Balep and Tony Dikongue were arrested last August and
have already spent nearly six months in detention in the port city of Douala,
lawyer Alice Nkom said.
In Cameroon and several other African nations, homosexuality is a crime.
Convictions carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine of up
to $450.
Nkom said she would appeal the convictions and sentences.
''None of these people were caught in homosexual act, so the court cannot
condemn them for something they never did,'' she said.
Nkom said all three ''have already suffered innocently so they need to be
released, since they have already spent nearly six months in prison cells
without trial.''
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