U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon waves as he arrives at the Kamuzu International Airport in the Malawi capital Lilongwe May 29, 2010, on his mission to pursuade Malawi’s president to take a stand on Malawi homosexuals who were imprisoned for 14 years. (Photo: Reuters/Eldson Chagara)

UN AIDS taskforce and human rights groups will launch a court battle against Malawi’s laws criminalising homosexuality in a rare challenge to rising anti-gay legislation in Africa.

The legislation has strained relations between President Joyce Banda’s government and international donors, whose aid is desperately needed in the impoverished country.

UNAIDS, the Malawi Law Society and local rights groups would ask the high court on March 17 to overturn as unconstitutional, laws banning same-sex relationships.

They would also challenge the convictions of three men jailed in 2011.

Homosexuality carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years in the southern African country.

The law society Spokesman, Felicia Kilembe, said “our argument is that as long as same-sex relationships are consensual and done in private, no one has business to get bothered.’’

Anti-gay sentiment and the persecution of homosexuals are rife in much of sub-Saharan Africa.

In Malawi, homosexuality became a contentious issue in 2009 when two men were arrested and charged with public indecency for getting married in a traditional ceremony.

They were later pardoned by late President Bingu wa Mutharika after pressure from donors and the UN.

SOURCE: Daily Independent