LILONGWE (Reuters) – Malawi’s leader pardoned a gay couple from a 14-year prison term yesterday after a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who applauded the move and urged the country to amend “outdated” laws on homosexuality.
Major donors to aid-dependent Malawi had condemned the jail sentence as an abuse of human rights and warned that this could affect support for Malawi’s budget. The United States had called the decision “unconscionable.“
“These boys committed a crime against our culture, our religion and our laws,” President Bingu wa Mutharika said.
“However, as the head of state I hereby pardon them and therefore ask for their immediate release with no conditions,” he said after a meeting with Ban where the UN leader raised the issue of the sentencing.
“I have done this on humanitarian grounds but this does not mean that I support this,” wa Mutharika added.
The Malawian couple, Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were arrested after celebrating their engagement in a traditional ceremony in late December.
They were tried and found guilty earlier this month of sodomy and indecency. The trial became a test case for gay rights in the southern African country.
Evance Phiri, spokesman for the Malawi Prison Service, said the couple may have to wait until tomorrow to be released.
