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Raped and killed for being a lesbian
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Big_Bird

Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:36 pm Post subject: Raped and killed for being a lesbian

Raped and killed for being a lesbian: South Africa ignores 'corrective' attacks

� Women living in fear of brutal assaults by male gangs
� Country's 'macho politics' lead to lack of action

Quote:

The partially clothed body of Eudy Simelane, former star of South Africa's acclaimed Banyana Banyana national female football squad, was found in a creek in a park in Kwa Thema, on the outskirts of Johannesburg. Simelane had been gang-raped and brutally beaten before being stabbed 25 times in the face, chest and legs. As well as being one of South Africa's best-known female footballers, Simelane was a voracious equality rights campaigner and one of the first women to live openly as a lesbian in Kwa Thema.

Her brutal murder took place last April, and since then a tide of violence against lesbian women in South Africa has continued to rise. Human rights campaigners say it is characterised by what they call "corrective rape" committed by men behind the guise of trying to "cure" lesbian women of their sexual orientation.

Now, a report by the international NGO ActionAid, backed by the South African Human Rights Commission, condemns the culture of impunity around these crimes, which it says are going unrecognised by the state and unpunished by the legal system.

The report calls for South Africa's criminal justice system to recognise hate crimes, including corrective rape, as a separate crime category. It argues this will force police to take action over the rising violence and ensure the resources and support is provided to those trying to bring perpetrators to justice.

The ferocity and brutality of Simelane's murder sent shockwaves through Kwa Thema, where she was much known and loved for bringing sports fame to the sprawling township.

Her mother, Mally Simelane, said she always feared for her daughter's safety but never imagined her life would be taken in such a way.

"I'm scared of these people that they are going to come and kill me too because I don't know what happened," she said. "Why did they do this horrible thing? Because of who she was? She was a sweet lady, she never fought with anyone, but why would they kill her like this? She was stabbed, 25 holes in her. The whole body, even under the feet."

The Guardian talked to lesbian women in townships in Johannesburg and Cape Town who said they were being deliberately targeted for rape and that the threat of violence had become an everyday ordeal.

"Every day I am told that they are going to kill me, that they are going to rape me and after they rape me I'll become a girl," said Zakhe Sowello from Soweto, Johannesburg. "When you are raped you have a lot of evidence on your body. But when we try and report these crimes nothing happens, and then you see the boys who raped you walking free on the street."

Research released last year by Triangle, a leading South African gay rights organisation, revealed that a staggering 86% of black lesbians from the Western Cape said they lived in fear of sexual assault. The group says it is dealing with up to 10 new cases of "corrective rape" every week.

"What we're seeing is a spike in the numbers of women coming to us having been raped and who have been told throughout the attack that being a lesbian was to blame for what was happening to them," said Vanessa Ludwig, the chief executive at Triangle.

Support groups claim an increasingly aggressive and macho political environment is contributing to the inaction of the police over attacks on lesbian women and is part of a growing cultural lethargy towards the high levels of gender-based violence in South Africa.

"When asking why lesbian women are being targeted you have to look at why all women are being raped and murdered in such high numbers in South Africa," said Carrie Shelver, of women's rights group Powa, a South African NGO. "So you have to look at the increasingly macho culture, which seeks to oppress women and sees them as merely sexual beings. So when there is a lesbian woman she is an absolute affront to this kind of masculinity."

A statement released by South Africa's national prosecuting authority said: "While hate crimes � especially of a sexual nature � are rife, it is not something that the South African government has prioritised as a specific project."

The failure of police to follow up eyewitness statements and continue their investigation into another brutal double rape and murder of lesbian couple Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Massooa in July 2007 has led to the formation of the 07-07-07 campaign, a coalition of human rights and equality groups calling for justice for women targeted in these attacks.

Sigasa and Massooa were tortured, gang raped and shot near their homes in Meadowland, Soweto in July 2007, shortly after being verbally abused outside a bar.

Human rights and equality campaigners are hoping that the public outrage and disgust at Simelane's death and the July trial of the three men accused of her rape and murder will help put an end to the spiralling violence increasingly faced by lesbian women across South Africa.

Despite more than 30 reported murders of lesbian women in the last decade, Simelane's trial has produced the first conviction, when one man who pleaded guilty to her rape and murder was jailed last month.

On sentencing, the judge said that Simelane's sexual orientation had "no significance" in her killing. The trial of a further three men pleading not guilty to rape, burglary and murder will start in July.

In Soweto and Kwa Thema, women seem unconvinced that Simelane's case will change anything for the better.

Phumla talks of her experience of being taught a "classic lesson" by a group of men who abducted and raped her when she was returning from football training in 2003. She says that "practically every" lesbian in her community has suffered some form of violence in the past year and that it will take more than one trial to stop this happening.

"Every day you feel like its a time bomb waiting to go off," she said. "You don't have freedom of movement, you don't have space to do as you please. You are always scared and your life always feels restricted. As women and as lesbians we need to be very aware that it is a fact of life that we are always in danger."

*Shudder*

The link also includes a video with interviews of victims of 'corrective rape.'

Fishead soup

Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:39 pm Post subject:

Sounds like the movie Boys don't Cry

CyberGuy

Joined: 27 Dec 2007
Location: Daejeon, Korea

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:55 pm Post subject:

Hmm.....Lets hail the West.

bigverne

Joined: 12 May 2004

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:23 am Post subject:

CyberGuy wrote:

Hmm.....Lets hail the West.

1. South Africa is not really part of the 'West'.

2. How are homosexuals treated in Muslim countries (they are executed in Iran) and what is your opinion about such treatment?

A straight answer would be nice.

CyberGuy

Joined: 27 Dec 2007
Location: Daejeon, Korea

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:03 am Post subject:

bigverne wrote:

CyberGuy wrote:

Hmm.....Lets hail the West.

1- South Africa is not in the west BUT part of the West. I wonder if you ever saw the cricket team of Africa? they did not have a single native in it. It was full of white occupiers who invaded South Africa for diamonds and gold and dumped their own rules and regulations. What are 10% whites doing in south Africa?
Did Jesus come to south Africa?
Where did the missionaries come from?? Yup, you are damn right, its from the freakin West.

2- How many homos have been put to death in Iran? I could count on my fingers.

Here's how it goes:

http://graphjam.com/2009/02/19/song-chart-memes-often-eh/

The same fasion: Iran penalizing a few homos vs. How often are western idiots talking about Iran's penalties for homos.

Furthermore, even if anything done by Iran is bad, how does it make Iran a synonym of Islam??

I answer your lies about Islam and you throw in what some wackos out there in Iran or Saudi Arabia are doing?
How many times will you go round and round in cycles??

CG.

ED209

Joined: 17 Oct 2006

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:13 am Post subject:

CyberGuy wrote:

2- How many homos have been put to death in Iran? I could count on my fingers.

That must be a big box of Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers then;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Iran#Capital_punishment

CyberGuy

Joined: 27 Dec 2007
Location: Daejeon, Korea

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:28 am Post subject:

ED209 wrote:

CyberGuy wrote:

2- How many homos have been put to death in Iran? I could count on my fingers.

That must be a big box of Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers then;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Iran#Capital_punishment

5 to 10 people each year? and 50 to 100 million western people whining about homo punishment each year?

I bet these many iraqs are killed by America alone in one day, and more than 10 being killed in Afghanistan each day. I don't see people talking about America's killing rampages with the same ratio. Everybody is busy masturbating about the alleged death of 10 homos in a YEAR in Iran.

wesharris

Joined: 10 Oct 2008

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:26 am Post subject:

CyberGuy wrote:

bigverne wrote:

CyberGuy wrote:

Hmm.....Lets hail the West.

Iran has a population of around 11% or so that is homosexual, among the highest in the middle east, honestly there's nothing wrong with that, but typically it's denied (this we know at least).
Now about Islam, Islam is a religion centered around the community, but unfortunately it is very young and premature, it's primary focus seems to be death. While a majority are what we might call moderate, those moderates themselves become extremists very easily.
Now unfortunately the only way to change Islam is from within.
We must start by altering Islam. We can change the Koran fairly easily.
You see Muhammed could be more accepting of homosexuals.
Homosexuality in and of itself is actually a very good way of creating a creative class of individuals who's only purpose is to well be creative, without children or a family in their way people can focus on things that make society more interesting, which actually creates a more stable society in the long run.
You see Societies need what I call safety valves in order to be more stable and less ignitable when big issues confront them, societies that dead lock crack and give birth to new societies.
But flexible societies last for a very long time.
So in conclusion, by accepting homosexuality in the Koran, we can make middle eastern society more stable and worldly, as well as accepting of different ideals.
_+_
Wes

On the other hand

Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:00 am Post subject:

Quote:

and 50 to 100 million western people whining about homo punishment each year?

I'm trying to figure out if Cyberguy is actually a Hitchens-type, pretending to be the stereotypical idea of a misogynistic, homophobic multiculturalist. Or if he really is the genuine article.

CyberGuy

Joined: 27 Dec 2007
Location: Daejeon, Korea

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:15 am Post subject:

On the other hand wrote:

Quote:

and 50 to 100 million western people whining about homo punishment each year?

I'm trying to figure out if Cyberguy is actually a Hitchens-type, pretending to be the stereotypical idea of a misogynistic, homophobic multiculturalist. Or if he really is the genuine article.

Sorry but I see 1000 times bigger issues than 5 or 10 people being penalized each year in Iran. In USA, there is one rape every 32 seconds. What does it say to you? Is anybody talking about that? NO, cuz everybody is busy in freaking out about Iran (ironic enough when most of them cant even pronounce the name of this country correctly and cant even locate it on the world map, but they consider themselves some experts on the issues related to Iran)

BUT, I am fully aware of the reasons behind such brainwashing. Please have a look at it and see for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onNzrNEFs1E

Same is the "thumb rule" in talking about any subject related to Iran or Saudi Arabia.

Kuros

Joined: 27 Apr 2004

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:22 am Post subject:

CyberGuy wrote:

On the other hand wrote:

Quote:

and 50 to 100 million western people whining about homo punishment each year?

I'm trying to figure out if Cyberguy is actually a Hitchens-type, pretending to be the stereotypical idea of a misogynistic, homophobic multiculturalist. Or if he really is the genuine article.

You don't see the difference?

One is state action conducted in a "court of law." The other happens outside of the gov't's reach and on the streets.

Hater Depot

Joined: 29 Mar 2005

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:36 am Post subject:

CyberGuy wrote:

Sorry but I see 1000 times bigger issues than 5 or 10 people being penalized each year in Iran. In USA, there is one rape every 32 seconds.

This is like saying we shouldn't make a big deal about the September 11th attacks because more people die in car accidents every year... in South Korea. It's a total non sequitur. What is the point of such a comparison?

mises

Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:39 am Post subject:

Hater Depot wrote:

What is the point of such a comparison?

Defending the tribe.

ED209

Joined: 17 Oct 2006

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:46 am Post subject:

CyberGuy wrote:

5 to 10 people each year? and 50 to 100 million western people whining about homo punishment each year?

Oh well, now you put it into perspective why are these people overreacting. Especially these South African homos.

CyberGuy wrote:

I bet these many iraqs are killed by America alone in one day, and more than 10 being killed in Afghanistan each day. I don't see people talking about America's killing rampages with the same ratio. Everybody is busy masturbating about the alleged death of 10 homos in a YEAR in Iran.

Stop masturbating with your victim mentality. Are you honestly telling me that people are talking more about executed homosexuals(not alleged deaths, they were executed for being gay!) than America's actions in Iraq? btw How many Iraqis are killed each day by other Muslims?

ManintheMiddle

Joined: 20 Oct 2008

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:50 am Post subject:

It's sad, isn't it, Big Bird? Look forward to the day that you start a thread on similar types of barbarism against women in Muslim countries, especially in the Middle East. But I won't hold my breath waiting.

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