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Malawi: After Release, Couple Separated by Families

Monday, May 31st, 2010

A gay couple freed by presidential pardon in Malawi are living in separate villages amid fears for their safety. Steven Monjeza, 26, and 20-year-old Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, walked free earlier this weekend when President Bingu wa Mutharika lifted their 14-year jail sentence on “humanitarian grounds” after meeting the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon.

But a human rights campaigner in Malawi said the men had not been reunited. “Prison officials told them that they had received instructions from above that they should send them to their respective villages,” Gift Trapence, who heads the Centre for the Development of the People (Cedep), said.

The two were “leading separate lives … they are not staying together and they don’t want to talk about their experience”, he added.

Full Story from The Guardian

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Malawi: Gay Couple Released After Pardon

Monday, May 31st, 2010

A gay Malawian couple sentenced to 14 years in prison were released from jail late on Saturday after a presidential pardon, SAPA news agency reported on Sunday. Malawi’s leader pardoned the couple on humanitarian grounds on Saturday after a meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who applauded the move and urged the country to amend “outdated” laws on homosexuality.

“We were asked to release them immediately,” Prison Service spokesman Evance Phiri was quoted by SAPA as saying.

Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were arrested after celebrating their engagement in a traditional ceremony in late December.

Full Story from the Vancouver Sun

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Malawi: President Pardons Gay Couple

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

Topped by Joe.My.God:

A gay couple jailed in Malawi after getting engaged have been pardoned by President Bingu Wa Mutharika. Mr Mutharika, speaking as UN chief Ban Ki-moon visited his country, said he had ordered their immediate release.

Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga were given 14-year jail terms earlier this month after being convicted of gross indecency and unnatural acts. The case has sparked international condemnation and a debate about homosexuality in the country.

Mr Ban hailed the president’s decision as “courageous”. “This outdated penal code should be reformed wherever it may exist,” he said. The BBC’s Karen Allen, in Lilongwe, says Mr Ban is trying to put pressure on parliamentarians to reform anti-homosexuality laws that date back to colonial times.

Full Story from BBC News

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Malawi: 14 Year Gay Marriage Sentence Gets Little Press Coverage in Africa

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

The international outcry following the jail sentence handed over to a gay couple in Malawi didn’t receive the same kind of coverage in Africa as it did in the West. For most African media, reflecting public opinion, the maximum sentence is justified.

The guests debating African media coverage of homosexuality are :

Kondwani Munthali in Malawi, news analyst for The Nation.

Sheriff Bojang Jnr. in Senegal, producer & presenter at West Africa Democracy Radio.

Alex Duval-Smith in South Africa , Africa correspondent for a British newspaper, The Observer.

The Nation newspaper in Malawi broke the gay engagement story in December 2009 and closely followed the ensuing upheaval and trial. While the Nation attempts to give a balanced coverage, the newspaper’s “People’s parliament”, a column where Malawian citizens air their views, shows that the public firmly believes the 14-year jail sentence handed over to the two homosexuals is entirely justified. As do the members of Parliament in Malawi, says Kondwani Munthali.

Full Story from RFI

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Malawi: Gay Couple Sent to Separate Prisons

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

A gay couple jailed for 14 years in Malawi have been separated into prisons more than 40 miles apart with little hope of maintaining contact. Steven Monjeza, 26, and his partner, 20-year-old Tiwonge Chimbalanga, were last week convicted of gross indecency and unnatural acts and sentenced to the maximum 14 years with hard labour.

Monjeza has been sent to the 1938-built maximum security prison in Zomba, while Chimbalanga remains at Chichiri prison in the commercial capital, Blantyre.

“I can confirm that the two were separated,” activist George Thindwa said. “Steven was sent to Zomba on Sunday.” Thindwa said he was tipped about the move by a top prison authority, who phoned him to say: “Your friend Steve is going to Zomba maximum prison.”

Full Story from The Guardian

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Madonna Shocked by Malawi Decision in Gay Marriage Case

Friday, May 21st, 2010

Madonna has said she is “shocked” at Malawi for sentencing a gay couple to 14 years in jail. Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga were handed the harsh sentence yesterday for holding a traditional marriage ceremony in December.

Madonna, who is the adoptive mother of two Malawian children and possibly the country’s most famous benefactor, called on the country to challenge the court’s decision. She said in a statement to Access Hollywood: “I am shocked and saddened by the decision made today by the Malawian court, which sentenced two innocent men to prison.

“As a matter of principle, I believe in equal rights for all people, no matter what their gender, race, colour, religion, or sexual orientation.”

Full Story from Pink News

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Malawi: Gay Couple Sentenced to 14 Years Hard Labor for Wedding

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

A Blantyre magistrate has sentenced a gay couple to 14 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for “unnatural acts” and “gross indecency” – the maximum possible sentence allowed by the colonial-era law under which they were convicted. Star Radio fm reported that magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwausiwa imposed the sentences on Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Muonjeza on Thursday. They were arrested last December after holding a traditional engagement ceremony, which is recognised as a civil marriage in Malawi.

Their defence lawyer said he would appeal against the court’s decision. Reporting on the jailing, the radio station said it showed that “gays don’t have a place in Malawi society.” Agence France-Presse reported the magistrate as telling the men: “Malawi is not ready to see its sons getting married to its sons.”

He said the long prison term was imposed to protect the public “from people like you” and so others “are not tempted to emulate this horrendous example.”

[End of Article]

Full Story from All Africa

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Malawi: Gay Couple Found Guilty for Wedding

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

A judge has found a gay couple guilty of unnatural acts and gross indecency after a trial that has sparked worldwide condemnation of Malawi’s laws on homosexuality. Blantyre chief resident magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa issued the ruling yesterday. The couple are facing up to 14 years in prison with hard labour after becoming the first gay couple in Malawi to publicly commit themselves to each other.

Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, had been jailed since they were arrested on 27 December, the day they celebrated their engagement with a party that drew crowds of curious onlookers.

Chimbalanga, 20, and Monjeza, 26, took a historic step when they committed to marriage at a symbolic ceremony in the southern African state, where homosexuality is outlawed.

Full Story from the Guardian

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Malawi: Verdict in Gay Marriage Case Due Tuesday

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

A man whose same-sex “marriage” has become a symbol of the struggle for gay rights in Africa has vowed to become a martyr rather than give in to homophobia, campaigners say. Tiwonge Chimbalanga and his partner Steven Monjeza are facing a possible 14 years in prison with hard labour after becoming the first gay couple in Malawi to declare their commitment in a public ceremony.

Peter Tatchell, the veteran British gay rights campaigner, has maintained contact with the pair at the maximum security Chichiri prison in Blantyre as they prepare to stand trial next week.

Tatchell told the Guardian he received a defiant message from Chimbalanga that said: “I love Steven so much. If people or the world cannot give me the chance and freedom to continue living with him as my lover, then I am better off to die here in prison. Freedom without him is useless and meaningless.”

Full Story from the Guardian

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Malawi: Jailed Couple Sends Message Thanking Supporters

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

The gay Malawian couple who were arrested in December for holding a marriage ceremony have thanked their supporters from jail. Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga have been in custody in a Blantyre prison for four months, having been denied bail. They have both pleaded not guilty to charges of sodomy and indecency.

In messages relayed to gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, the couple said they loved each other and thanked supporters for sending money.

Mr Monjeza was reported to be ill earlier this month with vomiting, sickness and jaundice due to the poor conditions in Chichiri jail. Supporters say his condition has improved slightly. In the message, he said: “We have come a long way and even if our family relatives are not happy, I will not and never stop loving Tiwonge.”

Full Story from Pink News

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