Rights teams say Rwanda has one of many worst human rights data in sub-Saharan Africa and accuse the federal government of utilizing authoritarian means to stifle dissent.
A Rwandan court docket has acquitted three journalists who had been detained for 4 years on expenses of spreading false data with the intention of inciting violence and tarnishing the nation’s picture.
“There is no such thing as a proof to show that their publication incited violence,” Speciose Nyirabagande, one of many court docket’s three judges, mentioned on Wednesday.
Rights teams say Rwanda has one of many worst human rights data in sub-Saharan Africa and accuse the federal government of utilizing authoritarian means to stifle dissent.
The federal government rejects the accusations, saying it ensures freedom of speech.
Jean Damascène Mutuyimana, Niyodusenga Schadrack and Jean Baptiste Nshimiyimana, reporters with the YouTube channel Iwacu TV, have been arrested in October 2018 on allegations of inflicting unrest and spreading rumours.
They have been repeatedly denied bail earlier than their trial, in accordance with the nonprofit Committee to Defend Journalists.
The trio’s defence lawyer Jean-Paul Ibambe mentioned he welcomed the acquittal however criticised the size of their pre-trial detention.
“Think about serving 4 years in preventive detention,” Ibambe instructed Reuters. “The courts ought to be quickening the procedures as an alternative of taking this very long time.”
The prosecution didn't instantly reply to a request for remark.
“The aid on the acquittal of the three journalists is overshadowed by the court docket’s failure to cease this sham of a trial earlier,” mentioned Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
“The actual fact a prosecution came about in any respect will ship a chilling message to others who dare to train their proper to free expression in Rwanda.”
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