Madonna shocked by sentencing of gay couple in Malawi
May 21st, 2010 - 1:08 pm ICT by IANS
Los Angeles, May 21 (IANS) Pop diva Madonna is “shocked and saddened” by a gay couple being sentenced to 14 years of hard labour by a court in Malawi, from where she has adopted her two children David and Mercy.
“I am shocked and saddened by the decision made today by the Malawian court, which sentenced two innocent men to prison,” accesshollywood.com quoted Madonna as saying.
According to reports from Malawi, where homosexuality is illegal, Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, and Steven Monjeza, 26, were convicted of gross indecency and unnatural acts when they were held at their engagement ceremony.
“As a matter of principle, I believe in equal rights for all people no matter what their gender, race, colour, religion or sexual orientation is. Today, Malawi took a giant step backward. The world is filled with pain and suffering therefore, we must support our basic human right to love and be loved.
“I call upon the progressive men and women of Malawi and around the world to challenge this decision in the name of human dignity and equal rights for all,” she said.
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Tags: engagement ceremony, gay couple, gender race, giant step, gross indecency, hard labour, human dignity, innocent men, madonna, malawi, men and women, pop diva, principle, progressive men, religion, sexual orientation, unnatural acts