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Generic Letter to MPs on Malawi gay couple case
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Dear,
I am writing to you as a constituent to request your intervention in the case of Steven Monjeza, 26 and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20 who are sentenced to 14 years in jail with hard labour on charges of homosexuality by a court in Malawi.
Steven and Tiwonge have been in custody since their arrest in December 2009 after they celebrated a same-sex engagement ceremony; Malawi do not have a legalised same-sex partnership. But the two are charged on the premise that the Constitution of Malawi criminalises homosexuality. However, this is unconstitutional because the Malawian Constitution grants freedom of expression to the citizens of Malawi regardless of sex, race, religion, etc.
I also believe that the prosecution of Steven and Tiwonge was biased as they were denied bail since being arrested 5 months ago in December 2009 in a case that is not violence-related. As Malawi is a member of the United Nations and African Union, these charges flouts the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter of Human and People’s Rights, both of which Malawi is a signatory to.
This is inhuman, unfair, unacceptable and uncalled for. Steven and Tiwonge should not have been arrested or prosecuted in the first place. This case also proves the dangers LGBT people face in Malawi and many other African countries which is against all fairness and justice.
I therefore emplore you as my Member of Parliament to use your position to call on the new UK government to intervene and ask the Malawian government to free these two men and quash any case against them. The UK government should make their position of disapproval clear and point out that Human Rights is the bedrock of British society and therefore a determinant in her relationships.
Thank you for your support and I shall be awaiting for your response with anticipation.
Yours Sincerely,
