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.
Filed Under: free speech, munyaradzi gwisai, torture, zimbabwe
