Malawi pardons jailed gay couple

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

A gay couple who were jailed in Malawi have been pardoned by President Bingu wa Mutharika.

Mr Mutharika, speaking as UN chief Ban Ki-moon visited Lilongwe, said he had ordered their immediate release.

Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were given 14-year jail terms after being convicted of gross indecency and unnatural acts.

The case has sparked international condemnation and a debate about homosexuality in the country.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/10190653.stm

[Enrique]

1. international pressure can be a beautiful thing

congrats to everyone who spoke out! :toast:

[IndianaGreen]

2. Kudos to Malawi's President Bingu Wa Mutharika

President Mutharika did the right thing despite his own reactionary views on LGBTs.

[MinneapolisMatt]

3. Thank god!

YAY!

[dballance]

4. Now they're going to leave their home

Sadly, I'd say the pardon is just a political thing to stop the news. These men will now have to leave their home to avoid being harassed or worse. So sad that governments and societies still want to tell people who they can and cannot love.

Who will grant these men asylum? It's clear they are being persecuted in their home country.

[Fearless]

7. +1

[Posteritatis]

5. Now will they survive the next week or two? (nt)

[joanmj]

6. Great news! n/t

[t0dd]

8. Malawi President Pardons Gay Couple

Source: NY Times

LILONGWE, Malawi, (Reuters) — Malawi’s president, Bingu wa Mutharika, on Saturday pardoned a gay couple who had been sentenced to 14 years in prison after their conviction on charges of unnatural acts and gross indecency.

Their sentence, the maximum penalty allowed, was a consequence of the couple’s holding a traditional engagement ceremony in an insular nation where homosexuality is largely seen as nonexistent or something that must be suppressed.

The case had drawn international attention as another example of the broad antigay sentiment in Africa and was condemned by human rights groups worldwide.

“These boys committed a crime against our culture, our religion and our laws; however, as the head of state I hereby pardon them and therefore ask for their immediate release with no conditions,” Mr. wa Mutharika said after meeting with the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, here in Malawi’s capital.

“I have done this on humanitarian grounds but this does not mean that I support this,” he added.

Last month, Mr. wa Mutharika was quoted as calling homosexuality “evil and bad before the eyes of God” and something “we Malawians just do not do.”

Mr. Ban was to address Malawi’s National Assembly later on Saturday, and was expected to ask the legislators to change the laws on homosexuality.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/world/africa/30malawi.html

[izquierdista]

9. Somebody buy them a plane ticket out

There's probably lots of places where they would be welcome and could lead normal productive lives.

[orion007]

10. They'd be welcomed in Vermont ! n/t

[brooklynite]

11. But, won't this encourage people to become gay?

Heterosexual marriages will be collapsing any minute now...