Malawi president pardons gay couple after UN pressure

President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi has pardoned a homosexual couple who had been jailed for 14 years, reports The Telegraph.

Mr wa Mutharika had been under international pressure to reconsider the convictions of Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20. They were arrested in December after they were united in a traditional wedding ceremony in the conservative southern African country, where homosexuality is illegal.

Mr wa Mutharika said: “These boys committed a crime against our culture, our religion and our laws .. however, as the head of state I hereby pardon them and therefore ask for their immediate release with no conditions.”

His decision will be seen as a victory by campaigners who had challenged the conviction and length of the sentence.

Protest to be held in London over imprisonment of Malawi couple

A protest is to be held this Saturday 29 May in solidarity with Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, the gay couple recently sentenced to 14 years in prison with hard labour in Malawi.

There have been calls for the United Kingdom to cease giving aid to Malawi until the couple are released. However, international development minister Alan Duncan MP stated: “We must be wary of calls to use aid money as a political weapon.” He added: “Our aid programme is worth almost £80 million this year and is aimed directly at helping those most in need. We cannot make them victims along with Mr Chimbalanga and Mr Monjeza.”

The protest begins at 1pm outside the Malawi High Commission, 70 Winnington Raod, London N2 0TX.

Malawi judge finds gay couple guilty of unnatural acts, gross indecency, and face 14 year imprisonment

A court in Malawi has convicted a gay couple of gross indecency and unnatural acts, reports The Associated Press.

Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were arrested in December 2009 after celebrating their engagement ahead of a wedding planned for 2010. They have been in jail ever since and could now face 14 years in prison.

Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa convicted both men of engaging in gay sex which he said was “against the order of nature”.

Homosexuality is illegal in at least 37 countries in Africa. In Uganda, lawmakers are considering a bill that would sentence homosexuals to life in prison and include capital punishment for “repeat offenders.” Even in South Africa, the only African country that recognizes gay rights, gangs have carried out so-called “corrective” rapes on lesbians.

Malawi launches operation against high-profile gay and lesbian people

Malawi police have launched an operation against gay and lesbian people. A spokesman for police in Malawi stated that they’ve uncovered a network of high-profile people who are involved gay acts. He says that police are investigating and “we will arrest them all.”

Read the full story at guardian.co.uk »

(Photo: Eldson Chagara/Reuters)