Somalia, Africa

The Somali state currently exists largely in a technical capacity; Somalia has a weak but largely recognized central government authority, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), but this is only the latest in a string of ineffectual, externally recognized governing authorities.It is a country without unity or cohesive organization. Different factions (gangs, militias) vie for power and are often at war with one another. Homosexuality is considered by many a mortal sin although Arab and Muslim officials often turn a blind eye to homosexual practices as long as it stays in the dark. But conspicuous punishments await those who dare to test the limits of the law or family: honor killings are not unknown.

 

 

‘Don’t come back, they’ll kill you for being gay’

For years Mohamed’s family tried to make him more like other boys – tougher, more “masculine”. They even sent him to have a female spirit driven out with hallucinogenic drugs. Eventually, writes Layla Mahmood, they decided to kill him. The heat enveloped 20-year-old Mohamed, as he zig-zagged through the alleyways of Hargeisa. It was around… Read more »

Somalia: Gay Somali Refugees Face Death Threats

Gay, lesbian and HIV-infected refugees fear violent persecution should they return home Gay, lesbian and HIV-infected refugees from Somalia are facing persecution – and even the threat of death – should they return home. Refugees have been under pressure to leave accommodations in Kenya, where many also face racist discrimination, after claims the country is… Read more »

LGBTs and HIV positive people fear return to Somalia

LGBT Somali refugees and people with HIV fear persecution if they return to Somalia from Kenya despite calls by the UN for refugees to return to rebuild the nation LGBT Somalis living in Kenya have expressed their fears about returning to their homelands despite calls by the United Nations for refugees to return to rebuild… Read more »

Gay Somali refugees face death threats

Gay, lesbian and HIV-infected refugees fear violent persecution should they return home. Nairobi, Kenya – Gay, lesbian and HIV-infected refugees from Somalia are facing persecution – and even the threat of death – should they return home. Refugees have been under pressure to leave accommodations in Kenya, where many also face racist discrimination, after claims… Read more »

Gay man stoned to death in Somalia?

Unconfirmed report via Facebook and Identity Kenya: Mogadishu – A gay man was allegedly stoned to death as punishment for homosexuality, a gay Muslim group has said Saturday. According to Somali Gay Community, the young man, Mohamed Ali Baashi ,18, was buried in a hole up to his chest and then pelted with rocks by… Read more »

Cyber hackers attack websites of Africa anti-gay countries

Hacktivist groups TheEliteSociety and Anonymous launch a joint operation to hack any African country that imprisons or kills LGBT people The Anonymous and TheEliteSociety hacking groups have launched a joint all-out attack against countries in Africa that kill or imprison LGBT people in an operation dubbed #OpFuckAfrica. So far websites in Botswana, Somalia, Sudan, and… Read more »

Warring Parties Put Children at Grave Risk: Rebels Use Students as ‘Human Shields’ – Non-gay background

“Out of all my classmates – about 100 boys – only two of us escaped, the rest were killed,” said a 15-year-old boy who, with his classmates, was forced to fight for the Islamist insurgent group al-Shabaab. Fighting in Somalia has intensified over the past two years, leaving children vulnerable to terrible abuses, says a… Read more »

Persecuted at Home, African Gays Seek Kenya Refuge

Until a new anti-homosexuality bill caused a wave of homophobia in Uganda, John and Paul could hold hands in the streets of the capital Kampala and kiss in night clubs. Then the nightmare started — people began insulting and then assaulting them, and then they had to run away to Kenya. The couple have been… Read more »

Somali Gay Community

Somali Gay Community was established in 2005 by a small group of Somalian guys who, apart from sharing the same culture and background, acknowledge the fact that we are homosexuals living in the UK. The aim of starting this group is to create a space and medium for somalian gay and lesbians to access information,… Read more »

Gay Somalia News & Reports

1 Death Hangs Over Somali Queers 5/04 2 Soul mates: The price of being gay in Somalia 9/07 3 Transsexual wins landmark case after epic 10-year battle 10/07 4 Welcome to the Somali Gay Community 11/07 5 Somali Online Gay Community Causing Worldwide Outrage 11/07 6 Somalia mayor grilled 11/07 non-gay background story 7 Somali… Read more »