By Joseph S Conteh
This article was published on the 6th of September 2024
Abdulai Junior Bangura, our reporter working for the Independent Observer Newspaper in Sierra Leone, has been forced to flee his home country to an unknown destination after facing backlash and threats for advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
Bangura, a proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, has long been vocal about his beliefs that everyone should have the freedom to be who they are without fear of stigmatization or abuse. However, his advocacy efforts have landed him in hot water with members of his local community, who have condemned his support for the LGBTQ+ lifestyle.
“The Sierra Leone community is against the LGBTQ+ community,” one of his friend in the community said. “They started hating him because they said he is ‘spoiling people’s marriages and causing people to join the LGBTQ+ community.'”
Bangura’s troubles came to a head one night when he was returning home from work late. A woman warned him not to go home, revealing that his house had been set on fire and that someone, later discovered to be his younger brother, was inside the blaze. Devastated, Bangura fell to the ground, crying bitterly.
The community’s outrage only intensified, with protesters accusing Bangura of trying to introduce a “lifestyle that is not part of the Sierra Leonean culture.” Fearing for his life, Bangura was later arrested by the police, who informed him that his advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights was a criminal offense that could result in a prison sentence of more than 10 years.
Faced with the prospect of persecution and possible imprisonment, Bangura made the difficult decision to flee unknown destination and seek for aid in elsewhere, where he currently resides. His harrowing ordeal highlights the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ advocates in countries where homosexuality is still considered a crime.
One of his colleagues at the Independent Observer said “I didn’t know if his wife and sons are alive,”
His close colleague further said, his voice trembling with emotion. “His life is in danger anywhere she go, and people will try to harm her.”
Bangura’s story serves as a sobering reminder of the risks that LGBTQ+ activists often face in their fight for equality and acceptance. As he rebuilds his life to his unknown destination, we believe he vows to continue his advocacy work, determined to amplify the voices of the LGBTQ+ community in Sierra Leone and beyond.
