Malawi President Pardons Gay Couple
By BARRY BEARAK
Published: May 29, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/world/africa/30malawi.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/world/africa/30malawi.html)
JOHANNESBURG — A gay couple in Malawi sentenced to 14 years in prison for "unnatural acts" was pardoned Saturday shortly after Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations met with that country's president.
"These boys committed a crime against our culture, our religion and our laws," President Bingu wa Mutharika said at a news conference in Lilongwe, the capital, before adding that he nevertheless was ordering the couple's unconditional release on "humanitarian grounds."
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2 gay men spared 14-year sentence in Malawi
By the CNN Wire Staff
May 29, 2010 2:17 p.m. EDT
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/05/29/malawi.gay.couple/ (http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/05/29/malawi.gay.couple/)
(CNN) -- The president of Malawi has pardoned two gay men who were sentenced to 14 years in prison this month for gross indecency and unnatural acts, the country's solicitor general, Anthony Kamanga, said Saturday.
President Bingu wa Mutharika announced his pardon of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga after meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Kamanga said
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President of Malawi frees and pardons gay couple sentenced to 14 years hard labour
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • May 29, 2010 - 17:24
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/05/29/president-of-malawi-frees-and-pardons-gay-couple-sentenced-to-14-years-hard-labour/ (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/05/29/president-of-malawi-frees-and-pardons-gay-couple-sentenced-to-14-years-hard-labour/)
The president of Malawi, Bingu Wa Mutharika has pardoned the gay couple sentenced to 14 years hard labour for conducting an illegal wedding in the country. The move was announced during a visit to the country by the secretary general of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon.
Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga were sentenced to 14 years hard labour earlier this month for gross indecency and unnatural acts. At one point it was feared they could be sentenced to death.
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Malawi President Spares Gay Couple From Harsh Sentence
By On Top Magazine Staff
Published: May 29, 2010
http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5794&MediaType=1&Category=24 (http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5794&MediaType=1&Category=24)
Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has spared two gay men from serving a harsh 14-year sentence, CNN reported.
Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 33, and Steven Monjeza, 26, were charged with and found guilty of unnatural acts and gross indecency for participating in a symbolic engagement ceremony in December. In sentencing the pair, Magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa imposed the maximum sentence allowed by law, saying he wanted to give the men a "scaring sentence" to "protect" the public.
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Story Updated : May 29, 2010 09:50:00 PM
Malawi Couple May Seek Asylum
By Advocate.com Editors
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/05/29/Malawi_Gay_Couple_Released/ (http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/05/29/Malawi_Gay_Couple_Released/)
Officials in Malawi released Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga from jail late Saturday, The New York Times reports. Monjeza, 26, and Chimbalanga, 33, had been in jail since December, when they engaged in a same-sex commitment ceremony in the Malawi capital of Blantyre.
snip
The Times reports that the police escorted Chimbalanga, who says she is a transgender woman, back to her home village for a reunion with family. She plans to return to the capital city on Sunday.