By Sanday Chongo Kabange, AfricaNews
LUSAKA, 8 January 2010: Three human rights workers involved in the defense of a famous Malawi gay couple have been arrested, according to a release from the UK-based Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) equality group, OutRage!.
The couple are in police custody and face a maximum imprisonment of 14 years.The released added: “All have been associated with the campaign to defend Steven Monjeza (26) and Tiwonge Chimbalanga (20), who held a same-sex engagement ceremony in Malawi two weeks ago”.
The leader of OutRage! Peter Tatchell, described the couple as “the first same-sex couple to begin the process of getting married in Malawi,” and reported that, “Both men are being held on remand in Chichiri Prison on charges of homosexuality, pending their trial on 15 January.”
– The charges faced by the human rights activists who have been arrested after standing up for the couple included a pornography rap that resulted from one of the activists possessing educational materials relevant to safer sex practices, Tatchell said.
