BLANTYRE, Malawi — Malawi's top court is considering an appeal of the conviction of three men who are serving long jail terms for homosexual acts. Activists describe it as a landmark case.

The High Court started hearing the case on Monday after the Center for Development of People, a civil rights group that campaigns for minority rights, challenged the government on its tough laws on gays.

Gift Trapence, executive director of the civil rights group, wants the court to declare that the laws criminalizing homosexuality in Malawi are unconstitutional.

In 2011, a lower court in Malawi sentenced the three men to between six and 12 years imprisonment with hard labor.