Mutharika succumbs to US pressure

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Peter Mutharika

…forgives two gay men

Malawi24 has been duly informed that on instructions from President Peter Mutharika, Malawi government has decided to drop all the charges against two men who were arrested in Lilongwe for having gay sex.

According to a source at state house, President Mutharika instructed the justice minister Samuel Tembenu to drop the charges as the country had suspended laws that criminalise Homosexuality.

Peter Mutharika
Gay rights defender

The drop of the charges follow outbursts by US ambassador to Malawi Virginia Palmer who sent a strong worded statement to the government of Malawi.

In a Facebook post, Palmer ordered the Malawi government to release the arrested couple as the arrest was an infringement on their rights.

Palmer’s remarks met a sharp rebuke from most Malawians with others calling for her departure of the country.

An open letter written by Malawian writer Beaton Galafa that told off Palmer to leave the country for her stance on homosexual relationships went viral with most people agreeing with the contents.

However, despite all the condemnation of the act, the leadership of Malawi has decided to pardon the two.