A social media video of a transgender woman being brutally beaten and abused by a mob in Botswana has been condemned by activists.

According to local LGBTIQ rights group Legabibo, the video shows the woman being violated by members of the public, including men, women and security guards, while she helplessly laid on the ground exposed.

“The perpetrators are illuminating the most intimate parts of her body, in addition to beating, slapping, kicking, verbally attacking and filming the incident,” said the organisation. “All the while people are looking on, laughing and making derogatory comments. To add insult to injury, the video has been posted on social media to further humiliate her.”

It’s understood the incident took place outside a night club in Gaborone called Trekkers on Friday night.

Legabibo noted that these kinds of attacks against transgender people are based on the idea of defending “public morality” and instilling “good behavior”. It criticised the misguided perception that “violating a person who does not conform to heteronormativity is equivalent to defending social norms and upholding the cultural and religious beliefs of the Botswana public.”

Legabibo called on the authorities to take action against the perpetrators and for the public to stop sharing the video. It also urged cultural and religious leaders to speak out against violence directed at trans-identifying individuals, and for security guards to protect the public. Read more via Mamba