Posts Tagged ‘International Socialist Organisation’

Preposterous conviction of HRDs in Zimbabwe for watching videos of the Arab spring

March 19, 2012

Munyaradzi Gwisai

The newspaper the Zimbabwean comes with the following story:  the MDC – although technically part of a unity government – denounces today’s conviction of human rights activist, Munyaradzi Gwisai and five others of conspiracy to commit crime by plotting to topple the government of Zimbabwe. The MDC dissociates itself from claims by the State that the six human rights defenders wanted to topple the government of Zimbabwe through watching video clips.

“We totally condemn the persecution through prosecution of the six in the first place and their conviction today at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts is another assault on democracy and human rights. All the six are innocent victims of a barbaric and senseless Zanu PF dictatorship.”

Gwisai, a former MP for Highfield, is the general coordinator of International Socialist Organisation (ISO). The others who were found guilty today are; Antoinette Choto, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Edson Chakuma, Hopewell Gumbo and Welcome Zimuto. The MDC quite rightly calls it “beyond belief” to assume that people can topple a government by simply viewing old video footage of events from Tunisia and Egypt.

How can anyone be convicted for watching video material that is already in the public domain and can be accessed by anyone from anywhere in the world?

Posted in films, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
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