Statement by the Anglican Bishops in Southern Africa, On the Imprisonment of Stephen Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga

In this statement the Bishops of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa called upon the South African Government to seek the release of Stephen Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, who were sentenced in Malawi to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour, under the country's laws against homosexuality.

The Anglican Bishops in Southern Africa called upon the Government of South Africa to seek the release of Stephen Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga who were jailed in Malawi after they affirmed their same-sex relationship in a traditional engagement ceremony. They were convicted for committing ”acts of gross indecency” and sentenced to 14 years at hard labour.

The bishops reaffirmed their opposition to the criminalisation of homosexual people, denouncing a gross violation of human rights, and stressing that ”all human beings are created in the image of God and therefore must be treated with respect and accorded human dignity.”