diff --git a/lib/core/convert.py b/lib/core/convert.py
index 1ac4172bb..0989431f0 100644
--- a/lib/core/convert.py
+++ b/lib/core/convert.py
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ def urlencode(string, safe=":/?%&=", convall=False):
         return result
 
     if convall:
-        result = urllib.quote(string)
+        result = urllib.quote(string.encode("utf-8")) #Reference: http://old.nabble.com/Re:-Problem:-neither-urllib2.quote-nor-urllib.quote-encode-the--unicode-strings-arguments-p19823144.html
     else:
-        result = urllib.quote(string, safe)
+        result = urllib.quote(string.encode("utf-8"), safe)
 
     return result
 
diff --git a/lib/parse/configfile.py b/lib/parse/configfile.py
index f20fc0ef8..3d07d5543 100644
--- a/lib/parse/configfile.py
+++ b/lib/parse/configfile.py
@@ -21,12 +21,12 @@ You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
 with sqlmap; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51
 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
 """
+import codecs
 
 from ConfigParser import NoSectionError
 from ConfigParser import RawConfigParser
 
 from lib.core.common import checkFile
-from lib.core.convert import utf8decode
 from lib.core.data import conf
 from lib.core.data import logger
 from lib.core.exception import sqlmapMissingMandatoryOptionException
@@ -53,8 +53,6 @@ def configFileProxy(section, option, boolean=False, integer=False):
             value = False
         elif value in ("true", "True"):
             value = True
-        else:
-            value = utf8decode(value)
 
         if value:
             conf[option] = value
@@ -79,7 +77,7 @@ def configFileParser(configFile):
 
     checkFile(configFile)
     config = RawConfigParser()
-    config.read(configFile)
+    config.readfp(codecs.open(configFile, "r", "UTF8"))
 
     if not config.has_section("Target"):
         raise NoSectionError, "Target in the configuration file is mandatory"
diff --git a/sqlmap.conf b/sqlmap.conf
index 8c2ccd57f..249266ba2 100644
--- a/sqlmap.conf
+++ b/sqlmap.conf
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ lastChar = 0
 
 # SQL statement to be executed.
 # Example: SELECT 'foo', 'bar'
-query = 
+query = INSERT INTO users VALUES (9, 'café', 'test') 
 
 # Prompt for an interactive SQL shell.
 # Valid: True or False