In a distressing development, authorities in Ethiopia’s capital city of Addis Ababa have intensified their crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community, prompting concerns and fear among its members. The police carried out a raid on a guest house following tips from the public, as part of a broader effort to suppress homosexuality. This comes in the wake of a surge in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments, magnified by the use of TikTok to incite violence and expose LGBTQ+ individuals. The hostile environment is further exacerbated by the fact that homosexuality is illegal in Ethiopia and carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
The Addis Ababa City Peace and Security Administration Bureau announced on Facebook its determination to take action against establishments suspected of engaging in homosexual activities within the city. This encompasses a range of venues, including hotels, restaurants, and entertainment facilities, deemed to deviate from the nation’s cultural, traditional, religious norms. This move underscores the strict stance against homosexuality that stems from Ethiopia’s Christian-majority background.
As the LGBTQ+ community grapples with increased violence and animosity, driven in part by the rise of homophobia on TikTok, a significant platform for social interaction, concerns over safety and security have escalated. Disturbingly, TikTok has been host to content advocating for violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, yet the platform has faced criticism for not promptly removing such content. This worrisome situation has drawn the ire of Bahiru Shewaye, co-founder of the Ethiopian LGBTQ+ organization House of Guramayle, who highlights how TikTok is being exploited to incite harm.
The use of TikTok to propagate violence is not an isolated issue. Alarming TikTok videos have featured calls for violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, including killing, burning, and physical assault. This escalating hatred has led to real-world harm, as LGBTQ+ individuals in Ethiopia have experienced physical attacks. The climate of fear has been further stoked by public demonstrations, live-streamed on TikTok, encouraging hostile actions. The Ethiopian LGBTQ+ organization’s statement underscores that the danger has reached new heights, with threats extending to family members of openly LGBTQ+ individuals living abroad.
In the face of such adversity, members of the LGBTQ+ community are left feeling vulnerable and anxious about their safety. Incidents of violent attacks and harassment have prompted some to flee to safer havens like Kenya. While TikTok has stated its commitment to removing inappropriate content and banning accounts that breach community guidelines, the ongoing challenges and hostility faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Ethiopia are undeniable. This disturbing trend underscores the need for comprehensive efforts to promote tolerance, understanding, and acceptance in a nation grappling with deep-rooted biases.