Cameroonian transgender women convicted of 'attempted homosexuality'

Mildred Loic, a local social media celebrity called Shakiro, is seen in this picture obtained from social media on March 24, 2021. Shakiro237/Facebook/via REUTERS

DOUALA (Reuters) - A court in Cameroon sentenced two transgender women on Tuesday to five years in prison for "attempted homosexuality" and other offences after they were arrested for the clothes they wore in a restaurant, their lawyers said.

A local social media celebrity known as Shakiro, who also is identified as Loic Njeukam, and Patricia, also identified as Roland Mouthe, were arrested on Feb. 8. Human rights activists say their detention is part of the growing criminalization of sexual minorities and transgender people in Cameroon.