Thu 20 May 2010 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
A Malawi court has convicted a gay couple of gross indecency and unnatural acts and now face 14 years in prison and hard labour. BBC reports Steven Monjezaand and Tiwonge Chimbalanga were arrested in December 2009 after celebrating their engagement ahead of a wedding planned for 2010. They have been in jail ever since. A judge has convicted both men of engaging in gay sex, which he said was "against the order of nature". They are to be sentenced on 20 May. BBC says in calling for a lighter sentence, the couple's lawyer argued that the pair's actions had not victimised anyone. "Here are two consenting adults doing their thing in private. Nobody will be threatened or offended if they are released into society." Same-sex liaisons are frowned upon in Malawi, where 'homosexual acts' are outlawed. The Globe and Mail says the Malawi case has drawn attention to the widespread persecution of gays in Africa, where homosexuality is illegal in at least 38 countries. In one of the most extreme cases, Ugandan politicians are trying to introduce a new law that could impose the death penalty or life imprisonment for gay people. The decision has been welcomed by the prosecution and church groups in Malawi, but slammed by human rights and gay rights campaigners around the world. Peter Tatchell of the British rights group Outrage! Has told the Guardian he disputes the court's finding that the men had engaged in sexual intercourse. "This is an outrageous verdict," the veteran British campaigner said. "While Steven and Tiwonge freely confirmed their love for each other, there was no credible evidence that they had committed any illegal homosexual acts." "I appeal to governments worldwide, especially the South African government, to condemn this harsh, bigoted judgment and to urge its reversal," he said.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 20th May 2010 - 9:46am