HR in the News: Anti-homosexuality Laws in Malawi Keep Engaged Couple in Prison

A same-sex couple in Malawi has been imprisoned after the country passed anti-homosexuality legislation. Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga have been in prison since they participated in an engagement ceremony in December. Since their imprisonment, they’ve been subjected to medical examinations to determine whether or not the couple has engaged in anal sex, which is a violation of the country’s decency laws. In addition, they are allegedly not being fed adequately and their trial date has been set back several times.

Anti-homosexuality laws are common in Africa, and there has been a recent resurgence of anti-gay sentiment in places such as Malawi and Uganda. In Uganda, a recent bill could make homosexual acts punishable by death. People and governments in Europe and the United States have condemned the actions of these countries, but so far none of the laws have been repealed and Monjeza and Chimbalanga remain in prison. The men have released statements declaring their continued love for one another despite their imprisonment, poor treatment, and rejection by their families.

These recent events have brought Africa’s aversion to homosexuality to the forefront of the international scene. Amnesty International has added their support to the case by adopting the couple and declaring them “prisoners of conscience” who have done no one any harm and are being sorely punished for loving each other. Interestingly enough, the thing which has placed the most pressure on the Malawian government is not the fact that the prisoners’ human rights are being violated, but that they might lose international support and aid as a result of their actions.