Malawi Gay couple sentenced to 14 years for 'wedding'
- Author Gary Cosby
- Published July 15, 2010
- Word count 322
A Malawi magistrate has made an 'example' of a gay couple sentencing them to a 14-year jail term with hard labour.
The case of Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, has made headlines around the world since their incarceration last December.
Monejeza and Chimbalanga were held in a prison without bail for four and a half months after holding a 'marriage' ceremony in Blantyre. Gay sex and gay marriage is outlawed in Malawi.
Human rights organizations around the world called for pair to be released, with Human Rights Watch urging the Malawian president to intervene.
However, after pleading not guilty the couple were yesterday convicted of 'unnatural acts and gross indecency' and given a maximum prison sentence.
Associated Press has reported that the magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa said: "I sentence you to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour each. That's the maximum under the penal code.
"I will give you a scaring sentence so that the public be protected from people like you, so that we are not tempted to emulate this horrendous example"
All calls for the case to be overturned have been rejected by the Malawian government.
Following the ruling Malawian minister of information, Leckford Mwanza Thotho said: "What we are saying is that the ruling or the court proceeding as of today, reflects our tradition in Malawi. It just shows that the gay issue is against our culture in Malawi,"
Amnesty International's deputy Africa director, Michelle Kagari responded: "Their human rights, the rights to freedom from discrimination, of conscience, expression and privacy have been flagrantly violated."
Uganda is also ignoring international pressure to withdraw a bill that calls for the introduction of the death penalty for some homosexual acts - a move that has been condemned by the U.S. and various European countries.
The controversial bill is likely to be amended, Deputy Foreign Minister Henry Okello Oryem told the BBC earlier this year following President Barack Obama denouncing it as "odious".
For weekly gay news, chat and dating hook up at www.maleforce.com
Gary Cosby is company copy, media and technical writer. His weekly news blogs Mand8 Out-Takes and Maleforce Flasher feature international news articles. Gary also provides site copy for gay social networking website mand8.com and gay chat and date site maleforce.com
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- Delaware's Low-Income Solar Program Under Scrutiny
- The Owl in the Shadows: The Rise and Reign of Khalid Qoode
- Unfiltered Encounters: Foreigners May Find Bangladeshi Women Unapologetically Bold
- Will Landlines Be Extinct By 2050?
- Uncovering the Beginning of Marine Reptiles: A 246-Million-Year-Old Nothosaur Fossil in New Zealand
- EMPOWERING LIVES WITH HOPE & MERCY FOUNDATION
- Deadly shooting in Jacksonville Beach
- The Somkhele Community fight against against coal mining expansion: voices from the frontline
- Fighting for Equality: The Empowering Legacy of Women in MMA
- The 2023 Survey of Public Perceptions of the Disabled - Supplement
- Are Implicit Biases Underlying Negative Impressions of the Disabled?
- Implicit Biases: What They Are and Why They Are Important
- The Alford Lewis case and how “everyone makes mistakes”.
- The father of ChatGPT: the AI revolution shapes the future of mankind
- Alleged Gang of Rapists in Scarborough Under Investigation; B&Q Employee Suspected as Leader
- Effectiveness of Outdoor Home Security Cameras in Preventing Crime
- How Much Is a Postcard Stamp(Official News)
- The DJI Drone Ban
- Elevate Your Safety Skills: Online Forklift Training and Fall Protection Courses at AI Forklift Training
- Embracing Global Citizenship: Working Together for a Better Future
- HOW ECO-FRIENDLY SHIRTS CAN SAVE THE PLANET (AND YOUR STYLE)
- Alcohol Addiction And Abuse
- The Future of Technology
- What are the benefits of using a Freight Forwarder?
- The Windsors
- Top Apple Products In 2022
- Best Smart Tv Under 30000 - Tech To Review
- Couple almost lose their home over botched taxes
- Why airlines climate change, sustainable jet fuel plan is lagging behind in electric cars and vehicles
- Beloved Scooby-Doo Character Gets a Rename