A French national, believed to be an atheist, has obtained a court injunction stopping the Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist Church in Blantyre from conducting its annual worship event outside the church, known as msonkhano wa Misasa.
The injunction, granted by the High Court, cites that the church’s prayers will disturb the Frenchman’s peace.
According to sources, Fabio Kaposk convinced the court that the noise from the church’s event would infringe on his right to peace and privacy.
However, the church argued that it had invested significant resources in preparing for the event, including inviting guests from outside the country.
Interestingly, Malawi’s constitution guarantees citizens the right to freedom of worship, which raises questions about the court’s decision.
The church’s annual event is an important part of its activities, and the injunction has sparked concerns about the balance between individual rights and religious freedom.
The Constitution of Malawi guarantees freedom of worship and religion, according to Section 33 of the Constitution.
The constitutional provision ensures that individuals in Malawi have the right to choose and practice their faith without fear of persecution or undue interference.
Noise is the legal issue. No speaker, individual or group, should have such lattitude that they overwhelm the peace and security of others.
Your characterization of the Frenchman’s nationality and faith philosophy was irrelevant and inappropriate in a multicultural, egalitarian society. Your journalistic bias will only serve to impair Malawi’s effort to become a modern, self-reliant nation.
My Malawi