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(NYASATIMES) British MPs condemn Malawi gay arrests

British MPs condemn Malawi gay arrests
By Nyasa Times
Published: January 22, 2010

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.

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.”

Peter Tatchell of the London-based gay human rights group OutRage! who has been working with Malawian friends to support the men on trial and to oppose their prosecution helped organise the EDM in the British Parliament.

He said: “The men’s prosecution and the ban on homosexuality violate the equality and non-discrimination provisions of the Constitution of Malawi and of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which Malawi has signed and pledged to uphold.”

Tatchell said the EDM will be communicated to the Malawian High Commissioner in London, Dr Francis Moto.

“It will hopefully add to pressure for the acquittal of Steven and Tiwonge and for the eventual decriminalisation of homosexuality by the Government of Malawi,” Mr Tatchell added.

“We hope this parliamentary motion will send a strong signal from the House of Commons to the Malawian government that the criminalisation of consenting same-sex relations is a violation of human rights. Malawi’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens have a right to privacy, equality, respect and dignity, under the country’s constitution and under international humanitarian law.

“Malawi is a sovereign nation and we respect its independence. But we hope that its government will recognise that this trial and the criminalisation of homosexuality are contrary to the human rights principles that Malawi has embraced since its transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

Labels: HOMOSEXUALITY, HOUSE OF COMMONS, MALAWI, MPs, PETER TATCHELL

posted by MrK @ 7:26 PM