By Mohamed Mattia

A wave of tension and controversy has swept through Waterloo and Freetown in the Western Area following a widely reported incident involving what residents described as a same-sex marriage ceremony between two women, an event that has ignited fierce public debate, police attention and serious human rights concerns, with particular focus now placed on the roles allegedly played by the officiators and special guests. From what this medium learnt, the ceremony took place in the Bango Farm area of Waterloo in September 2025 and involved two women identified as Massah Mansaray and Jannet, whose gathering was quickly interpreted by onlookers as a same-sex marriage as they were dressed in wedding attires. According to eyewitness accounts, concerned residents alerted the police, prompting officers to escort Massah Mansaray and Jannet to the Corner Kick Police Post for questioning while investigations were opened to determine whether any laws had been violated.

The incident rapidly attracted national attention due to Sierra Leone’s strong legal, cultural and religious opposition to same-sex unions. Although the country’s criminal laws have historically focused on prohibiting male same-sex sexual activity, same-sex marriage is neither recognized nor permitted under civil, customary or religious law, and public acceptance remains extremely low. Community reaction was swift and intense, with religious leaders, including the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone, condemning the reported ceremony as inconsistent with the nation’s moral and faith-based values.

Attention has also turned to the alleged roles played by Salmata Bah from Wellington, who, according to multiple accounts, was present at the gathering in her capacity as a godparent to one of the women and alongside an Imam who allegedly officiated the ceremony exposing them. Although some family members of Salmata Bah intimated that her presence was purely ceremonial and familial, insisting that she did not organize the event, however, other voices within the community have levelled grave accusations against Salmata, alleging that despite being married, she is bisexual and that such is the reason why she is barren. Those claims, which remain unproven, have circulated widely and have significantly intensified public anger toward her.

One of her sisters intimated this medium that Salmata Bah is willing to resettle in her community but is seriously afraid of facing widespread backlash.

According to local sources, the Imam alleged to have officiated the ceremony has also come under severe criticism, threat, with many Sierra Leoneans describing his alleged involvement as an act of sacrilege. From what this medium learnt, both Salmata Bah and the Imam are currently the subject of an intense manhunt by the police as well as by angry members of the public. It was further learnt that, due to mounting threats and fears for their safety, Salmata Bah, the Imam, and the couple, Massah Mansaray and Jannet, have all gone into hiding, as their lives are said to be in serious peril.

The situation has raised profound human rights implications, particularly concerning the safety, dignity and due process rights of all those involved. While Sierra Leone’s laws and dominant religious beliefs firmly reject homosexuality, lesbianism and same-sex marriage, human rights advocates caution against mob justice, harassment and the spread of unverified allegations that could lead to violence. Observers note that the current climate underscores the delicate balance between upholding national laws and values and protecting individuals from harm, discrimination and extrajudicial punishment.

As investigations continue, the case has become a stark reminder of the deep societal divisions surrounding sexuality and religion in Sierra Leone, with the couple, Salmata Bah and the Imam now at the centre of a controversy that reflects broader tensions between law, faith and fundamental human rights. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/fear-and-tension-over-same-sex-marriage-public-outrage-police-probe-and-human-rights-debate/