CMRSL STATEMENT ON THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY MADE ON 2ND SEPTEMBER, 2023 BY THE ANTI-LGBTQ MOVEMENT.
On 2nd September, 2023, a group of people carrying banners titled “Anti-LGBTQ Movement” went from business to business in Bamburi area, Mombasa, harassing innocent customers and workers. The group also made speeches outside the businesses in which they called for the elimination of the LGBTQ community in Kenya. They hoisted a tyre outside one of the businesses and promised to lynch LGBTQ+ persons and burn down the businesses for serving LGBTQ+ persons. The group also declared that they will be conducting house-to-house searches for LGBTQ+ persons starting this week.
These attacks are a clear violation of the rights of citizens in Kenya including the LGBTQ+. The Constitution of Kenya guarantees all citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, the right to equal protection and benefit of the law, residence and movement within the country. The Constitution also prohibits incitement to violence, hate speech, and advocacy of hatred that constitutes vilification of others or incitement to cause harm.
The attacks on businesses in Mombasa are part of a wider pattern of violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in Kenya. In recent months, there have been am increase in the number of cases of LGBTQ+ people being attacked, threatened, or discriminated against. Many LGBTQ+ people have been forced to go into hiding, abandon their jobs, flee their homes, and forgo critical services.
We condemn these attacks and call on the police and relevant government agencies to take immediate action to stop these attacks and to bring the perpetrators to justice. We also call on all Kenyans to speak out against this hate campaign and violence.
We demand that the police:
- Urgently investigate the attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.
- Declare the planned demonstrations unlawful assemblies and refuse permission to hold them.
- Offer protection to any LGBTQ+ people, their families, friends, and allies whose safety may be threatened.
- Publicly call out these acts for being criminal.
- Remove hate materials from online and public places.
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We also call on all Kenyans to:
- Speak out against the hate campaign and violence against LGBTQ+ people and their allies.
- Stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people, their families and allies.
- Work to create a more just and inclusive society for all.
The LGBTQ+ community deserves to live their lives free from fear and violence. We must all work together to stop this hate and violence and to create a more just and inclusive society for all.