Hundreds of Malawians in the country’s major cities are protesting the legalization of safe abortion and homosexuality reports the Capital Radio Malawi.
The protests against a proposed bill seeking to legalize abortion in Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Blantyre were planned by the Episcopal Conference of Malawi and the Evangelical Association of Malawi
The demonstrators in the capital Lilongwe aim to walk to the country’s parliament building to present a petition at the civic offices.
Christian and Muslim leaders are among the demonstrators. According to the media report, there is heavy police across the cities.
“Abortion is currently illegal in Malawi with the exception to save the life of pregnant woman in extreme conditions. It is punishable by law and attracts a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment. Homosexual acts also attract a jail sentence of 14 years and the government has said it will carry out a review about whether to repeal the country’s anti-homosexuality laws.” Says Capital
Malawi government has denied plans that it is planning to introduce abortion laws.
“The truth of the matter is that the Law Commission has developed a Report and made recommendations to Government to adopt a new law on abortion…. “The Report, which is the subject of the present controversy, is the result of the work of this other Commission which focused on issues of unsafe termination of pregnancy. This Report is yet to be submitted to Cabinet through the Minister of Justice for Cabinet’s consideration. This has not been done at this stage. It is important to emphasize that Reports of the Law Commission are merely recommendations to Government. It is the prerogative of Cabinet to adopt or reject any recommendations originating from the Law Commission,” Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Malison Ndau, told Nyasa Times
Here are some thoughts from Malawians posted online
https://twitter.com/KandyPure/status/806066138010570752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/_32flavours/status/806081606561603585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Abortion is too controversial to take a side. I just think religion cares more about the life of the child than the woman carrying it.
— V. 💋 (@ne55alicious) December 6, 2016
Isn't it strange that we have pro-lifers who won't demand quality of life for people they want alive? https://t.co/mSnOlPovq1
— Jimmy Kainja 🇲🇼 (@JKainja) December 5, 2016
