By Abdul Koroma
Haji Mohamed Kabbah, who some people are openly accusing of being a homosexual, has not been seen since 11th November 2015.
His family and loved ones are worried because they do not know whether he is alive or dead.
He has been abused, ridiculed, and physically attacked for being a homosexual despite that he has a wife.
According to a close friend who preferred anonymity for fear of reprisal, sometime in October 2015, Haji was mobbed by some people in the Savage Street neighborhood in Freetown because he is constant being seen with men only and also that his behavior and dress codes show him as a woman rather than a man. Haji, according to this friend had been exhibiting tendencies of homosexuality which is much against his religion and society in general is frowning at it with passion.
He said some of them had publicly vowed to deal with Haji in a manner that he would not see any other day to continue his homosexual life. The friend confided that the matter of the assault on Haji and the threatening remarks to his life was reported to the police, but it was treated as an insignificant matter, which, according to the anonymous friend had clearly exposed Haji’s life to any form of danger.
“The guys threatened to kill Haji because according to them, he cannot be encouraged to desecrate their community, or be encouraged to bring a way of life that the Sierra Leone society generally frowns at,” the anonymous friend stated, a situation that had without doubt, increased the suspicion that Haji may have been kidnapped and made to disappear without any trace.
The issue of LGBT is mostly frowned at in Sierra Leone especially by the country’s two main religions, Islam and Christianity as their respective believers hold the view that it is ungodly and therefore sacrilegious. LGBT is not protected in Sierra Leone. Even the police don’t treat LGBT issues with seriousness, which in itself endangers the life of those few who practice it. Most Sierra Leoneans see same sex relationships as a taboo and therefore is countenanced by most citizens.
Like many LGBTs who have been persecuted, hounded and hunted in the country with place to hide and no protection from the state so far, Haji, if he is still alive may not have any protection as his life continues to be endangered as a LGBT.