Religious groups march in Malawi before court case on LGBTQ+ rights

Source: The Guardian

Religious groups march in Malawi before court case on LGBTQ+ rights

Faith leaders say the proceedings, brought by a transgender woman, are an attempt to legitimise ‘sinful acts’

Leonard Masauli in Lilongwe
Fri 14 Jul 2023 14.39 BST
Last modified on Fri 14 Jul 2023 15.11 BST

Scores of religious groups and churches took to the streets of several cities in Malawi on Thursday to denounce same-sex marriage before a constitutional court hearing next week.

The court is expected to sit for two days from 17 July to consider a case brought by Jana Gonani, a transgender woman who was charged with “unnatural” behaviour.

Gonani was convicted in December 2021 by the Mangochi senior magistrate court of an offence contrary to section 153 (c) of the Penal Code. She has appealed to the special court to declare the legislation unconstitutional, arguing that the laws violate citizens’ rights to privacy and dignity. The case is being interpreted by the protesters as a step towards legitimising LGBTQ+ relationships.

The general secretary for Malawi Council of Churches (MCC), the Rev Alemekezeke Chikondi Phiri, who helped organise Thursday’s marches in the cities of Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu and Zomba said the Christian churches are not against individuals but that the practice of homosexuality is a sin.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/jul/14/religious-groups-march-in-malawi-before-court-case-on-lgbtq-rights

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