Zambian President Pardons Gay Couple Jailed for 15 Years

Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu has pardoned a gay couple who was sentenced to 15 years in prison under laws that declares sex between couples “against the order of nature”.

Japhet Chataba, 39, and Steven Sambo, 31, were among nearly 3,000 inmates pardoned by President Edgar Lungu to commemorate Africa Freedom Day.

After the judge had sentenced the couple to 15 years in prison, the case drew criticism from then U.S, ambassador Daniel Foote, who stated that the sentence was too harsh and could damage Zambia’s reputation.

As ‘Yahoo News’ report, in the past decade there have been several instances where African countries come to conflict over LGBT+ rights with Western countries. For example, the previous Obama administration cut aid to Uganda and Malawi over their anti-homosexual laws and policies, and Uganda announced plans in October last year for a bill that would impose the death penalty for gay sex, but later backtracked after major aid donors said they were monitoring the situation.

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