News / National
Zim diamond rights researcher and anti Mugabe activist prevented from leaving
11 Sep 2011 at 13:25hrs | Views
Lawyers for a prominent diamond rights researcher and anti Mugabe activist say state security officials prevented him from leaving the southern African nation for a conference in Ireland on rights violations.
The State security agents prevented Maguwu, the Director of the Centre for Research and Development from leaving Harare International Airport to attend the Sixth Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders in Ireland scheduled to run from 14 to 16 September 2011, where human rights defenders at-risk, from every corner of the world are scheduled to gather to share experiences, learn from one another, discuss relevant issues and engage with decision makers from governmental and inter-governmental bodies.
Lawyers for Farai Maguwu said Sunday that his airline boarding pass was seized Saturday along with his passport, laptop and personal notebooks. Maguwu was jailed for five weeks earlier this year for allegedly releasing information on killings and violence in eastern Zimbabwe's controversy-mired diamond fields.
He was scheduled to speak at the Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders Sept. 14-16.
Maguwu's check-in luggage which was pulled off the Kenyan Airways plane by the airline's officials was also tampered with and Kenya Airways officials refused to explain what had happened to his luggage.
No official explanation was given. Lawyers immediately sought a court ruling allowing him to travel.
The State security agents prevented Maguwu, the Director of the Centre for Research and Development from leaving Harare International Airport to attend the Sixth Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders in Ireland scheduled to run from 14 to 16 September 2011, where human rights defenders at-risk, from every corner of the world are scheduled to gather to share experiences, learn from one another, discuss relevant issues and engage with decision makers from governmental and inter-governmental bodies.
Lawyers for Farai Maguwu said Sunday that his airline boarding pass was seized Saturday along with his passport, laptop and personal notebooks. Maguwu was jailed for five weeks earlier this year for allegedly releasing information on killings and violence in eastern Zimbabwe's controversy-mired diamond fields.
Maguwu's check-in luggage which was pulled off the Kenyan Airways plane by the airline's officials was also tampered with and Kenya Airways officials refused to explain what had happened to his luggage.
No official explanation was given. Lawyers immediately sought a court ruling allowing him to travel.
Source - Byo24News
