White House applauds pardon of Malawi gay couple facing prison term

The Obama administration applauded the Malawi government's pardon of a gay couple facing a 14-year prison term for marrying.

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika pardoned and released Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga on Saturday. The East African nation had received international pressure for holding homosexuality to be a crime. 

Mutharika announced the pardon after meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Malawi.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the White House was "pleased" to learn of the decision.

"These individuals were not criminals and their struggle is not unique," Gibbs said in a statement. "We must all recommit ourselves to ending the persecution and criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity.

"We hope that President Mutharika's pardon marks the beginning of a new dialogue which reflects the country's history of tolerance and a new day for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights in Malawi and around the globe," Gibbs added.