Yaounde, Cameroon – (African Boulevard News) – Cameroon’s media regulator, the National Communication Council (NCC), has threatened to suspend television channels that broadcast “scenes of homosexuality” in the country. The NCC made the statement in a press release on Tuesday, warning that it would not tolerate any content that goes against Cameroon’s cultural and moral values.
The regulator’s statement was prompted by a recent increase in the broadcasting of programs that feature homosexuality, particularly on foreign channels. Cameroon is known for having strict laws against homosexuality, with penalties of up to five years in prison for those found guilty.
In the press release, the NCC stated that it “strongly condemns the increasing number of scenes of homosexuality broadcast on television channels operating in Cameroon” and warned that it would take action against distributors and operators who continue to broadcast such content.
The NCC also urged broadcasters to ensure that their programs comply with Cameroonian laws and regulations and respect the country’s cultural and moral values.
Cameroon has been criticized in the past for its treatment of the LGBT+ community. Human rights groups have accused the government of harassment and arbitrary arrests of individuals suspected of being gay. In 2013, Cameroon’s parliament passed a law that criminalized same-sex sexual activity.
“The NCC’s threat to suspend TV channels that broadcast homosexuality is in line with Cameroon’s anti-LGBT+ laws, but it also highlights the government’s continued hostility towards the LGBT+ community,” said Neela Ghoshal, senior researcher in the LGBT+ rights program at Human Rights Watch.
“The government should be protecting the rights of all its citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” Ghoshal added.
The NCC’s statement has sparked a debate on social media, with some users expressing support for the regulator’s stance, while others have criticized the move as an infringement on freedom of expression.
The NCC’s warning comes amid a wave of crackdowns on LGBT+ rights across Africa, with several countries enacting or proposing laws that criminalize same-sex relationships.
In conclusion, Cameroon’s media regulator, the National Communication Council (NCC), has issued a warning to television channels that broadcast “scenes of homosexuality” in the country. The NCC’s threat to suspend distributors of TV channels that feature homosexuality content shows the government’s continued hostility towards the LGBT+ community, which human rights groups have accused Cameroon of harassing and arbitrarily arresting individuals suspected of being gay. While some users have expressed support for the NCC’s stance, others have criticized the move as an infringement on freedom of expression.
