A judge in Malawi has imposed a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison with hard labour on a gay couple convicted of gross indecency and unnatural¹ acts.

马拉维某法官判处一对犯下严重猥亵罪和非自然行为的同性恋者长达14年的监禁以及强迫劳役。

The pair were arrested after holding an engagement ceremony last December

The judge said he wanted to protect the public from "people like you".

Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, have been in jail since they were arrested in December after holding an engagement ceremony.

The case has sparked international condemnation²（谴责，定罪） and a debate about homosexuality（同性恋） in the country.

The British government, Malawi's largest donor³, expressed its "dismay（沮丧，灰心） " at the sentences, but has not withdrawn⁴ aid.

'Horrendous⁵ example'

The US state department, meanwhile, said the case was "a step backwards⁶ in the protection of human rights in Malawi".

Handing down sentence in the commercial capital, Blantyre, Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa told the pair: "I will give you a scaring sentence so that the public be protected from people like you, so that we are not tempted⁷ to emulate⁸（模仿） this horrendous（可怕的，惊人的） example."

The judge said the pair - whom he convicted on Tuesday - had shown no remorse⁹（懊悔，同情） .

"We are sitting here to represent the Malawi society, which I do not believe is ready at this point in time（此刻） to see its sons getting married to other sons or conducting engagement ceremonies," said the judge.

The BBC's Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre says Monjeza, who is unemployed¹⁰, broke down in tears while Chimbalanga remained calm.

"I am not worried," Chimbalanga, a hotel janitor¹¹（守卫，门警） , told reporters as he was led away.

Defence lawyer Mauya Msuku told the BBC that they would appeal.

The courtroom was packed, and hundreds of people gathered outside the building. Some shouted abuse as the couple were taken back to jail.

There were shouts of "You got what you deserve!" and "Fourteen years is not enough, they should get 50!"

Mr Msuku had argued for a lighter¹² sentence, pointing out that the pair's actions had not victimised anyone.

"Here are two consenting adults（成年男子，男同性恋者） doing their thing in private. Nobody will be threatened or offended if they are released into society," he said on Tuesday.