Advertisement

Engaged' gay couple jailed in Malawi

by Rex Wockner

International News Briefs

Two men in Blantyre, Malawi, got engaged to be married in a traditional ceremony Dec. 26, local media reported.
Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, and Steven Monjeza, 26, formalized their relationship before hundreds of observers, then were promptly arrested and charged with gross public indecency and unnatural practices between males.
The couple pleaded not guilty in a Dec. 30 court appearance, after which prosecutors threatened that medical tests would be performed to prove the couple had sex together. They remain jailed at Chichiri prison.
Gay sex is banned in Malawi under threat of up to 14 years in prison.
Amnesty International on Jan. 6 demanded the men be released, saying "their rights to freedom of conscience, expression and privacy" have been violated and they are "prisoners of conscience."
"Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga have committed no criminal offense and should be immediately and unconditionally released," said Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen. "The Malawian authorities' attempt to subject them to forcible anal examinations is appalling. Such practices and the criminalization of homosexuality in Malawi should be ended without delay."
In the meantime, on Jan. 4, Malawian police arrested Bunker Kamba, an activist from the Centre for the Development of People, for possessing "pornographic" HIV education materials.
Kamba was released on bail. Amnesty said police also want to arrest CEDEP activist Gift Trapence on the same charges.

Advertisement
Topics: News
Advertisement

From the Pride Source Marketplace

Go to the Marketplace
Advertisement