British MPs Denounce Malawi Arrests

Some 29 members of the British parliament have signed a motion that condemns the arrest of two gay men in Malawi and calls for the country to decriminalize homosexuality.

The House of Commons Early Day Motion denounces the charges faced by Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, who were married in a traditional African ceremony late last year. They face up to 14 years in jail under British colonial-era laws against homosexuality in Malawi.

Currently, Monjeza and Chimbalanga are being held in Chichiri Prison in Blantyre, where they reportedly have been abused in custody.

The EDM is published on the parliament's website.

"The EDM will be communicated to the Malawian High Commissioner in London," said international human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell in a statement. "It will hopefully add to pressure for the acquittal of Steven and Tiwonge and for the eventual decriminalization of homosexuality by the government of Malawi," he said.