Malawi police arrest couple after gay wedding

[ccharles000]

LILONGWE (Reuters) - Two Malawian men were arrested and charged with public indecency, police said on Tuesday, after becoming the first gay couple to marry in the conservative southern African state where homosexuality is illegal.

Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza publicly wed in a symbolic, traditional ceremony on Saturday.

"We arrested them last night at their home and charged them with gross public indecency because the practice is against the law," police spokesman, Dave Chingwalu, told Reuters.

Homosexuality is banned in Malawi and carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.

Chingwalu said the two men were likely to face further charges and would be held until further investigations have taken place.

http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE5BS0WL20091229

[NMMNG]

1. Sad that this still occurs in what is almost 2010

:-(

[MNBrewer]

2. Can't blame this on colonialism.

Those nations have done plenty to rid themselves of colonial institutions, and they carefully chose which ones to keep. The Brits bear NO responsibility for this whatsoever.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

3. I agree...

These people CHOOSE what to toss out and what to keep. We need to not send another penny to these countries untl this shit stops. I read this and was appalled. I still don't get what the hell is wrong with two people loving another?! You can bet the fundie homophobes are behind this somewhere.