Malawi Gay Couple Found Guilty of “Indecency” for Gay Marriage Ceremony
May 18th, 2010 at 9:00 am by Ryan Prado ·
After nearly six months of being behind bars, Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were found guilty of unnatural acts and gross indecency today, despite international condemnation over Malawi’s (and some 37 sub-Saharan African countries in general) laws against homosexuality. The couple, as reported yesterday, could face up to 14 years in prison.
From ABC News:
“This is an outrageous verdict. There was no evidence to justify it. Steven and Tiwonge freely confirmed their love for each other, but the prosecution has entered no credible evidence that they had committed any sexual acts,” Peter Tatchell, spokesperson for the London-based gay human rights group OutRage!, told ABC News.
BBC News adds:
Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa 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.
In calling for a lighter sentence, the couple’s lawyer argued that the pair’s actions had not victimised anyone.
“Unlike in a rape case, there was no complainant or victim in this case,” he said. “Here are two consenting adults doing their thing in private. Nobody will be threatened or offended if they are released into society.”
But the chief prosecutor welcomed the judge’s decision.
“In Malawi, we don’t allow men to marry men or women to marry women,” said Dickens Mwambazi. “I think 90% of the crowd here agree with the ruling.”
http://blogout.justout.com/?p=17769
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010...-couple-jailed