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The right to live and enjoy absolute freedom irrespective of one’s ethic background, religious and political affiliation are enshrined in any civilized society which forms the basis of humanity and respect for human dignity.
Although not every society in this 21st century condoles and respect the rights of its citizens who associate themselves in a society that they feel secure, the rights of these people according to a larger voice including human rights organizations and civil societies must be respected and protected.
Musab Abdallah aged 24 years old is a Muslim from Ghana and a member of the LGBTQ+ in Ghana where the practice of gay is against portions of the constitution and religious and traditional beliefs.
The Muslim community where Musab live is very much against same sex marriages and relationships which is against the decrees and traditions of Islam and that is why all the Islamic states across the world is a no go area for persons practicing LGBTQ+.
Musab Abdallah started practicing gay when immediately he was enrolled into senior high school in 2015. According to him, a student who is ahead of him introduced him to the act during his first year in School .
Musab Abdallah said “We were practicing it in school till he ( Senior) completed and left. My love for the same gender became so intense that i kept practicing with some other boys who were just like me”.
” Unfortunately, i was caught in the act with a fellow student in 2017. Both of us were beaten by the student population before they even reported us to the school authorities. We were humiliated, harassed and suspended for weeks. I went home and lied to my parents that i was suspended because i went out of campus without permission”.
It wasn’t safe anymore even after they returned back to school as they were faced with bullying in all forms. Musab tried his best to go through the Senior high School level and finally completed.
After senior High school, he met a young man called Amin and was really good looking and charming. Musab started developing feelings for the young man and eventually they became sex mates.
To cover up his association with fellow men, he started dating a woman at the same time so people will not suspect him of being a gay.
Shockly he said “I had no idea that Amin was pretending all this while and was also keeping records and screenshots of all our messages. And he told his family about it”.
“We planned on booking a hotel for the weekend in September 2021 just so we can have some alone time and also discuss the healthy and the way forward of our relationship since it is not accepted. On the said day, i was so happy and ready to meet Amin so i went earlier to prepare the hotel room ahead of him. Little did i know that he has disclosed everything we have been talking and planning about to his family and they had also planned to come get me beaten at the hotel for involving their son into the act. Luckily for me, i locked the door while i was inside waiting for him. He was getting late thou buh i was still patient and waiting for his arrival. I was inside when i heard knocks on the door. I was confused and scared because i didn’t know what was happening all of a sudden. I insisted that i wasn’t going to open the door. I guess they waited for long and decided to leave. I remained inside till midnight when i heard no voices”. He narrated.
Musab knew they had left at that time so he managed to leave the hotel premises and go home. He knew his family would been informed at that time but had no other option than to go home. He also knew definitely that he was going to be beaten because in the Muslim community where he lives, you get beaten and killed when you are caught either stealing, or involved in adultery or rape or gay.
Musab said “According to her ( his mother), they held a family meeting when the family of Amin came to report the issue and some members of our family where in support that i get beaten for what i did. At that point, i knew i was not safe anymore to continue living on that community. My mom and i had a long talk and i told her about the entire issue and we came to a conclusion that i leave the country. I continued to stay in doors for about 2 weeks waiting for my mom to gather some money for me to travel out of the country. It was a humid evening when i started my journey to the United States to find comfort and also a sound mind. For years i have known that i am gay and it was not only frowned upon, it was also considered as a major sin”.
Tracing back to all the times that he was being bullied and beaten by his mates in school and the decision taken by his family members, he knew that he was making the right decision by leaving the country to survive else where.
Finally after what seemed like an eternity , he was able to cross the border into the United States.
” I was relieved to be in a place where i could finally be myself without fear of persecution. I knew i had made the right decision to leave my home in Ghana and seek a better future in the United States. As time goes on, i have come to feel more and more at home in this country. I have made friends who have accepted me for who i am and also found a community of people who understand the struggles that i have faced. I have found love and people who really care. Despite the challenges that i have faced, i have finally been able to live openly without fear of violence or persecution and as i look back on this journey, i knew that i have found a place where i can truly be myself and live a life free from fear”.
Musab is currently residing in the United States of America, where he can finally live openly and without fear. It has been a challenging journey for Musab, but according to him, he is grateful for the opportunity to be true to himself. “My heart goes out to those who are still struggling in traditional societies, and I hope that one day, everyone will be accepted for who they are. No one should not endure the pain and discrimination that I have faced simply for being true to themselves. I am hopeful that with increased awareness and empathy, we can create a world where love is celebrated in all its forms”, he concluded.
Thousands of people like Musab Abdallah are being subjected to emotional torture and physical abuse for belonging to the LGBTQ society which they feel comfortable belonging to the society. They wish for a society like the United States of America and parts of Europe that accept and respect the rights of LGBTQ+ members to live in but access to these countries is hard for them to reach.
