Malawi Courts Charge Gay Couple With the Crime of Marrying

by Juliet Blalack · 2010-01-08 06:15:00 UTC
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In a bold tribute to love and activism, Malawi couple Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza married in a large public ceremony the day after Christmas.

Now, however, the two men are sitting in jail on charges of "gross indecency" and "unnatural practices between males."

They were denied bail by Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa, who expressed concern that Chimbalanga and Monjeza may be attacked if released. Their risk for violence in prison is just as real though. Not to mention the State Prosecutor tried to force the couple to go through a humiliating and invasive physical examination to see if they had sex.

"I am sad I am going back to Chichiri prison; the conditions are terrible there, " said Monjeza after appearing in court.

Time to send a message that these two men don't deserve to be thrown in prison for taking part in a same-sex marriage ceremony.

Chimbalanga and Monjeza pleaded not guilty, and their trial is slated for January 15th. The Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP), a human rights organization in Malawi, put together a legal team for their defense, but subsequently three activists associated with the defense campaign were arrested. One was charged with distributing pornography -- but it turned out that what passed for pornography was actually an HIV/AIDS education pamphlet.

The laws on Malawi's books punish homosexuality with up to 14 years in prison, but the defense team hopes that, by using the guarantee of non-discrimination as outlined in the Malawi constitution, they can win the case.

Before the trial begins, let the Malawi government know that marriage is nothing to be punished. Click here, and you can write to the Malawian Embassay in the United States that Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza should be freed immediately and all charges should be dropped against them.

Amnesty International already called for their release, and UK gay rights organization OutRage! is collecting donations to send to their legal team.

Photo: RasRisingSun

Juliet Blalack writes about LGBT rights, with a focus on international issues. She previously lived in Cairo, Egypt.
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