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Gay workers freed by Zimbabwe court
28 May 2010Two workers from a gay organisation have been freed by a court in Zimbabwe after six days in jail on allegations of possessing indecent material and displaying a placard seen as insulting to President Robert Mugabe.
Ellen Chadehama, 34, and Ignatius Mhambi, 38, who claim they were assaulted by police, are to be tried next month. Their lawyer said they were made to bend their knees with their arms outstretched for long periods and were struck with bottles when they weakened and fell.
Homosexuality is illegal in Zimbabwe. The workers, from the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe organisation, face imprisonment or a fine in their trial on June 10.
Police say the pair possessed photographs of gay sex and posted a letter in their office from former San Francisco mayor Willie Lewis Brown criticising Mr Mugabe's opposition to homosexuality.
