President pardons pair ‘on humanitarian grounds’ after meeting UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon
A gay couple sentenced serve 14 years jail Malawi have been pardoned after their country’s president met Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary general.
Steven Monjeza, 26, Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were tried found guilty sodomy indecency earlier this month move that sparked international condemnation.
But after talking with Ban today, Malawi’s president, Bingu wa Mutharika, announced the pair would be freed.
“These boys committed a crime against our culture, our religion and our laws,” he said after meeting, at southern African country’s State House. “However, as head of state, hereby pardon them and therefore ask for their immediate release no conditions.
“I have done this on humanitarian grounds, this does not mean that support this.”
He added: “We don’t condone marriages this nature. It’s unheard Malawi it’s illegal.”
Ban praised decision, said: “It is unfortunate that laws criminalise people based on sexuality. Laws that criminalise sexuality should repealed.”
He due address Malawi’s national assembly later and expected ask legislators look at this.
Although order was immediate, prison spokesman told The Associated Press they had not received notification to release pair by Saturday afternoon.
Earlier this week, cousin Chimbalanga, Maxwell Manda, said that he wanted to leave Malawi upon his release.
Joseph Amon from Human Rights Watch said president was responding international outcry following couple’s conviction sentence.
“I hope that other leaders African countries with anti-gay laws see that this is just not acceptable the international community,” he said.
British campaigner Peter Tatchell, the gay and lesbian human rights group OutRage, said the couple should “never have been arrested, let alone jailed five months, convicted and sentenced to 14 years hard labour”.
“They love one another, have harmed no-one,” he said.
“I hope the government Malawi will now show true humanitarian leadership by repealing the criminalisation homosexuality enacting laws protect gay people against discrimination hate crimes, as South Africa has done.”
Monjeza Chimbalanga were arrested two days after they made public commitment to marriage symbolic ceremony at the hotel where Chimbalanga worked as janitor late December. They were the first same-sex couple Malawi to seek marriage.
Passing sentence them 20 May, the magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa Usiwa said: “I will give you … sentence so that the public [will] be protected people like you, so that we are not tempted emulate this horrendous example.”
The pair were then separated. Sent to prisons more than 40 miles apart, they had little hope of maintaining contact.
High-profile figures who spoke out in support them include singer Elton John pop star Madonna, who adopted child Malawi. Amnesty International also called sentences an “outrage”.
In South Africa, new human rights organisation Section27 called president, Jacob Zuma, apply pressure Malawi through Southern African Development Community.
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