
LILONGWE, Malawi, June 9 (UPI) -- Two gay men jailed in Malawi for their relationship have split up, with one of the men moving in with a woman, authorities said.
Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were sentenced to 14 years of hard labor in May but were freed and granted a presidential pardon following international pressure.
Since his release, Monjeza has said he was coerced into the gay relationship and now is with a woman named Dorothy Gulo, the BBC reported.
Human-rights advocate Peter Tatchell said anti-gay pressure forced the "star-crossed lovers" to separate.
"It is a tragedy that homophobic threats and abuse have forced this couple apart," Tatchell said. "They were deeply in love. The pressure has got to Steven."
Monjeza and Chimbalanga were convicted in May of engaging in gay sex under a law dating back to colonial rule by Britain. Monjeza and Chimbalanga both faced new charges if they continued their relationship, prosecutors said.
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