LILONGWE (MaraviPost)-A Malawian woman is stuck in Ireland after running away from Malawi because she was outed as a lesbian.
She went there to find safety and freedom, but now faces many challenges.
The woman, who we’ll call Mary to protect her identity, spoke to Maravi Post about her painful journey.
Mary says she was forced to marry a man in Malawi, even though she didn’t want to.
She stayed in the marriage for years and had three children.
But when her truth came out that she is a lesbian her life became dangerous.
“I was living a lie,” said Mary. “I was forced into a marriage I never wanted. When I tried to be myself, everything got worse. I feared for my life and for my children.”
Mary says her husband was abusive. She didn’t go to the police because she was afraid of what would happen.
In Malawi, same-sex relationships are illegal and looked down on by many people.
“It wasn’t just the abuse at home,” she said. “Once people found out I was a lesbian, I was bullied, attacked, and threatened with death.”
With no safe place to go, Mary escaped to Ireland and asked for asylum.
But now, she is stuck there with no legal documents, no job, and very little money.
She only receives housing support from the government.
“I thought I was running to safety, but now I feel stuck,” Mary said. “All I want is a safe place to raise my children and to live without fear.”
She said it was her husband who found pictures with her lover which made commotion in the house. She latter fled with children and it was reported latter by her husband to the police.
Human rights groups continue to speak out about how LGBTQI people are treated in Malawi.
Same-sex relationships are still against the law, and many people face violence and discrimination because of their sexual orientation.
Mary is now asking the Irish government and human rights organizations to help her get legal papers so she and her children can start a new life in peace.
Malawi remains unsafe for LGBTQI people due to laws that ban same-sex relationships.
The laws are mostly supported by religious beliefs, especially from Christian churches.
