Drama unfolded yesterday at a birthday party in the Muslim community in Ashaley Botwe, a suburb of Accra when a married woman and her lesbian partner were beaten mercilessly by an angry Islamic youth after they were caught red-handed engaging in the forbidden act.
According to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, Mrs. Sakina Haruna who was one of the guests at the party held in the family house of her friend, one Salamatu was caught in the act by the latter’s unsuspecting little cousin who walked in on the two women kissing and fondling each other in Salamatu’s room. The obviously shocked cousin screamed out in alarm which attracted other people at the party to the scene.
Salamatu’s father, is apparently a strict and highly respected Muslim elder in the area for which reason the act in his house was seen as very abominable and disgraceful not just to her father but the entire Muslim community. It also comes at a time when religious leaders across the country have intensified their stand against homosexuality and lesbianism in Ghana.
The two women suffered severe beatings at the hands of the irate youth who had the full support of the religious leaders and were lucky to be rescued by a good Samaritan who was only passing and rushed to call the Police who quickly came to the scene to intervene. It was then before the two women were set free after which both escaped, Salamatu has gone into hiding with her whereabouts still unknown.
Mrs. Haruna who was only a visitor to the house, also took advantage to escape but the youth followed up to her marital home to threan her that they will still beat her up whenever they see her for bringing disgrace to her marriage and religion. Sources close to Mrs. Haruna says she is living in fear because of the continued threats on her life by the Islamic youth who see what she did as an abomination for a married woman.
“Salamatu’s cousin saw them kissing passionately and he raised an alarm and over 20 people who rushed to the room pounced on them and beat them like they were thieves. They had a lot of bruises on their body and Salina nearly lost her eyesight from a hefty blows she received,” the eyewitness recounted.
“They managed to escape when the Police came to their rescue but a group of Muslim youth in the area have sworn not to forgive her. They went to her house where she lives with her husband and children, chanting her name and threatening to kill her to serve as deterrent to others,” the eyewitness added.
Credit: Abigail Asamani
