Twenty-nine British MPs have signed a House of Commons Early Day Motion (EDM 564), which condemns Malawi’s arrest and current trial of two men, Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, who are accused of a homosexual relationship.
The pair who returns in court on January 25, face up to 14 years in jail if convicted but they have already suffered abuse, humiliation and violence while being held on remand in Chichiri Prison. Photos
The EDM, tabled by Liberal Democrat MP, John Hemming, also urges the dropping of all charges and the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Malawi.
The motion read: “This House notes the same-sex engagement ceremony in late December 2009 of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga; calls upon the President of Malawi to ensure that they are released from jail and that all charges against them for homosexual relations are dropped; calls upon the Government of Malawi to decriminalise homosexuality in accordance with the equality and non-discrimination clauses of the Malawian constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and to ensure the human rights of all its citizens, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.” Read complete article - Nyasa Times
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