SUMMARY:Imagine working hard at a profession to make a living. Now, imagine getting arrested for that work even though everything being done was legal.
That is exactly what is happening to many journalists throughout the world.
According to a Reporters Without Borders (RWB) article, a journalist and human rights activist was released by the Zimbabwean government.
The journalist, Jestina Mukoko, was being held on charges of creating a "terrorist plot" against President Robert Mugabe and recruiting volunteers to engage in military training to overthrow the government.
Mukoko was freed on $600 (U.S.) bail.
And though Mukoko is free the government still has charges posed against her — which RWB is advocating be dropped. In addition, she is required to report routinely to the police.
According to the article, Mukoko was kidnapped from her home on Dec. 3, 2008 by 15 plainly-clothed men.
She reportedly was not allowed to speak until her first meeting with a Zimbabwean judge 21 days later.
Mukoko was allegedly placed in solitary confinement in the Chikurubi high-security prison, where she was tortured and mistreated by guards.
These guards allegedly punched and hit her repeatedly with sharp objects. And they made her kneel naked on the gravel.
RWB is, however, waiting on the release of another reporter in custody — freelance photographer Shadreck Manyere.
Manyere is being held because he supposedly has involvement in the bombings at various locations — the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters in Harare, the Manyame Bridge, and the Harare Central Police Station.
Manyere, he was kidnapped by government agents on Dec. 13, 2008. He was brought before a Harare court on Jan. 7, 2009 on charges of banditry, terrorism, and sabotage.
He faces a prison sentence ranging from 20 years to life.
MY OPINION:
I am getting so sick of seeing these journalists imprisoned for being involved in things that are simply "speculation."
I highly doubt that either journalist had a hand in any of the charges that are being brought against them.
To be honest, I do not really have too much to say about this because to me this situation is similar to the other postings I have recently made about injustices against journalists: ridiculous, saddening, and terrifying.
SOURCES:
Reporters Without Borders
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