Zimbabwe Professor Arrested, Tortured For 'Treason' For Watching News Videos About Egypt & Tunisia
from the wtf dept
Disturbing reports out of Zimbabwe about how a professor who regularly held gatherings to discuss different news topics and social issues, was arrested, charged with treason and tortured for having the audacity to gather the regular group of about 45 people who discuss these things, and showing them some BBC and Al Jazeera news clips about the uprising in Egypt and Tunisia.Last Saturday, Munyaradzi Gwisai, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe�s law school, was showing a group of students and activists internet videos about the tumult sweeping across North Africa when state security agents burst into his office.I understand that Zimbabwe is not exactly a bastion of freedom these days, but arrested, tortured and charged with treason for gathering people to watch the news? Wow.
The agents seized laptop computers, DVD discs, and a video projector before arresting 45 people, including Gwisai, who runs the Labor Law Center at the University of Zimbabwe. All 45 have been charged with treason -- which can carry a sentence of life imprisonment or death -- for, in essence, watching viral videos.
Over the next 72 hours, Gwisai and five others were brutally tortured, he testified on Thursday at an initial hearing.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: free speech, munyaradzi gwisai, torture, zimbabwe
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
They only do it because they have run out of white people to steal their farms from and abuse.
Saying that aren't a bastion of freedom is pretty much downplaying the nasty reality of a country run by a dictator who has killed his own people before, and will likely do so again. His only saving grace is that he doesn't have much oil, so few are looking.
Sort of another story that shows your ignorance of the world.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
And what is your opinion on the techdirt stories on the US?
Could you also describe the topics of which you consider yourself to be ignorant and show me to your blog? If you publish 1/10 of what Mike publishes, I'm sure I will be able to find numerous opportunities to state, "sort of another story that shows your ignorance of the world."
If I can find room to make that statement then SURELY you must be ignorant of nearly everything you write, correct?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
I don't have a personal blog, I think they are a waste of time. There are more than enough opinions out there without adding my own.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
I would make unsupported vague statements about you, but you're posting anonymously so I'll just point that out instead.
"There are more than enough opinions out there without adding my own."
If only you truly believed that.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
Citation, please. I've rarely seen Mike be anything but courteous to anybody but obnoxious trolls, and those errors that are pointed out to him (factual errors, not disagreements with his points) are usually corrected on the main article, often with thanks to the commenter who pointed out the error.
Please, point out one instance where Mike has personally called people any of those things due to them correcting a factual error in his post.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Zanu PF
Mugabe and his supporters are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans.
If Zimbabwe had oil, or a predominantly white population, the West would have invaded a long time ago to put a stop to the abuse.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Zanu PF
No let them sort out their own problems any way they want and if that involves mass extermination like Rwanda that then is their problem not The West's nightly news problem.
And if you think that is cruel then you are most likely not aware of the fact that The East, China, is recolonizing Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa with the intent of doing exactly that The West did in the 18th century.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Zanu PF
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Damned right I authorized torture
And it may well be that these people were watching purloined copyrighted material, probably illegally downloaded. So maybe torture isn't justified just for that, but they probably owe hundreds of thousands of dollars to the copyright holders.
Plus we all know that surreptitious surveillance of a country's citizens is the always legal and in the best interest of the homeland.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Damned right I authorized torture
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Damned right I authorized torture
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
when starvation finally catches up with this country
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: when starvation finally catches up with this country
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: when starvation finally catches up with this country
No let them sort out their own problems any way they want and if that involves mass extermination like Rwanda that then is their problem not The West's nightly news problem.
And if you think that is cruel then you are most likely not aware of the fact that The East, China, is recolonizing Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa with the intent of doing exactly that The West did in the 18th century.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: when starvation finally catches up with this country
Dismissing the plight of others under the guise of not wanting to appear racist is despicable. I agree that western involvement in any foreign issues is a big problem, especially considering our track record, but to ignore their plight just because we don't know how to help isn't the answer.
"And if you think that is cruel then you are most likely not aware of the fact that The East, China, is recolonizing Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa with the intent of doing exactly that The West did in the 18th century."
Why would one cruelty make another any less cruel? Perception is not reality.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: when starvation finally catches up with this country
Black rule brought Mugabe and starvation.
White rule was immoral and unethical.
Black rule is moral and ethical.
Or so they tell me.
Wander what the Chinese who are recolonizing Zimbabwe think of this.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: when starvation finally catches up with this country
White rule was immoral and unethical.
Black rule is moral and ethical."
You seem to imply that black people are at fault for Mugabe, while ignoring the fact that he gained power as a result of liberation from white rule. Racism is not welcome here.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Tends to get funny when commies are mentioned...
Bottom line: Strongmen LOVE when countries like the U.S. get themselves involved with questionable actions - because it gives them more FREEDOM to do what ever the hell they want.
And Mike - I would like to think that you have travelled outside the U.S. borders to somewhere other than Canada, so please do not pull a 'Pollyanna' act.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The real america...
Even though we were the only country with the gall, the firepower, and the people to do it. Now we arent. Unilateral sanctions? I dont even know what those are, other than useless.
Ill kill the guy myself, people who cause pain and suffering dont deserve to live. People like this and like Quaddafi just need to get sniped off, simple as that. One plane ticket, one change of clothes, and the rounds to do the job.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: The real america...
So the consequences of that sort of action is an escalation in weapons and anger from other nations in retaliation.
When you are strong and bully, you end up paying a price later on. We are already paying a price, and the more foolishness we engage in, taking the low ground, the less we'll have tomorrow. You can't beat respect into other people. In time, it will come back to haunt you.. as it should. Because if another nation was disrespecting us, we return in kind.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: The real america...
Right now with Lybia we are cutting off that party, and moving closer and closer to supporting those who are greatest stakeholders. In any case, we need to tighten the noose.. preferably while allowing a way out if the target surrenders since otherwise those tyrants might do crazy things.
I don't like the death penalty as punishment dished out by civilized people, and I would not expect any less than brutality from someone who felt trapped and hunted.
On the other hand, when you tighten the noose without being brutal and merciless, the primary target will lose support from more and more people and eventually will not be able to act with anything but stumbling incompetency.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The country is an active dictatorship. The SADC (South African Development Community) implemented a power-sharing deal between the 2 main parties. That deal never resolved any difficulties, but got the question of Zimbabwe off their agenda.
It was their job to fix things. They did enough to ensure the problem wasn't on their table anymore. Meanwhile the suffering continues; it just doesnt show up on people's news feeds as much.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
MANDEVERE A HERO OF MDC PARTY
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
THE COMPETANT LAWYER
[ link to this | view in chronology ]