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Sikhala's detention a 'gross miscarriage of justice'
27 Oct 2023 at 14:32hrs | Views
Amnesty International has strongly criticized the prolonged pretrial detention of Job Sikhala, a member of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), labeling it a significant miscarriage of justice and a scathing indictment of Zimbabwe's judicial system.
Khanyo Farisè, Deputy Director for East and Southern Africa at Amnesty International, expressed, "Job Sikhala's extended detention while awaiting trial is a grave miscarriage of justice and serves as a damning indictment of Zimbabwe's judicial system. It illustrates how authorities are misusing the courts to stifle opposition leaders, human rights advocates, activists, journalists, and other critical dissenting voices."
Sikhala has spent 500 days in custody at Chikurubi Maximum-Security Prison in Harare since his arrest in June 2022. His arrest took place after he attended the funeral of political activist Moreblessing Ali, who had been missing for three weeks before being discovered murdered and dismembered on June 11, 2022.
While Sikhala received a suspended six-month sentence with the option of paying a $600 fine or serving six months in jail, he remains in detention awaiting trial on two additional charges: incitement to commit violence and disorderly conduct.
Amnesty International contends that the charges against Sikhala are politically motivated and that his detention constitutes a violation of his right to a fair trial and his freedom of expression.
Farisè emphasized, "Authorities must cease weaponizing the law to target opposition figures and ordinary citizens. The relentless harassment and intimidation of activists and human rights defenders through legal means must come to an end. Everyone should be able to exercise their freedom of expression without fear of reprisals."
He further added, "The right to a fair trial is internationally recognized as a fundamental human right, and Zimbabwean authorities are obligated to respect it. Sikhala's charges are clearly politically motivated and are based solely on his peaceful exercise of his human rights. Furthermore, the authorities have failed to substantiate the necessity of his pretrial detention. We call for his immediate and unconditional release. The international community must vociferously condemn the ongoing harassment against him."
Khanyo Farisè, Deputy Director for East and Southern Africa at Amnesty International, expressed, "Job Sikhala's extended detention while awaiting trial is a grave miscarriage of justice and serves as a damning indictment of Zimbabwe's judicial system. It illustrates how authorities are misusing the courts to stifle opposition leaders, human rights advocates, activists, journalists, and other critical dissenting voices."
Sikhala has spent 500 days in custody at Chikurubi Maximum-Security Prison in Harare since his arrest in June 2022. His arrest took place after he attended the funeral of political activist Moreblessing Ali, who had been missing for three weeks before being discovered murdered and dismembered on June 11, 2022.
Amnesty International contends that the charges against Sikhala are politically motivated and that his detention constitutes a violation of his right to a fair trial and his freedom of expression.
Farisè emphasized, "Authorities must cease weaponizing the law to target opposition figures and ordinary citizens. The relentless harassment and intimidation of activists and human rights defenders through legal means must come to an end. Everyone should be able to exercise their freedom of expression without fear of reprisals."
He further added, "The right to a fair trial is internationally recognized as a fundamental human right, and Zimbabwean authorities are obligated to respect it. Sikhala's charges are clearly politically motivated and are based solely on his peaceful exercise of his human rights. Furthermore, the authorities have failed to substantiate the necessity of his pretrial detention. We call for his immediate and unconditional release. The international community must vociferously condemn the ongoing harassment against him."
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