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Zimbabwe
Human rights activist released on bail
Article published on the 2009-03-02 Latest update 2009-03-02 16:06 TU
Jestina Mukoko as she is escorted to the Magistrates court in Harare
(Credit: Reuters)
Jestina Mukoko, director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, was released from three months of detention on Monday, though she will still have to face charges of attempting to remove President Robert Mugabe from power.
“It’s a sad indictment of our justice system that it couldn’t do anything at all to release her before today, and it’ll be three months tomorrow since she was unlawfully abducted”, Beatrice Mtetwa, her lawyer, told RFI. “It’s amazing how three months of your life can be taken away just like that, and the justice system doesn’t do anything about it.”
Interview: Mukoko's lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa
Mukoko received a conditional release on 600 dollars (476 euros) bail and is currently in hospital undergoing analyses to determine the treatment she received in prison has affected her health.
Mukoko was arrested during the night of 3 December when masked gunmen raided her house. Her fate wasn’t publically known until she appeared in court three weeks later. Her arrest was one of the first in a wave of repression against human rights activists and opposition figures late last year and early this year.
Of the approximately 30 people arrested during this time, eight were released over the weekend. An unknown number of other people were released Monday alongside Mukoko.
“It will be necessary to assure that everyone is released. And for me it will be crucial to assure that these charges are withdrawn, because everyone knows that this is just a charade. They are not guilty of anything at all,” Mtetwa said.
“These people were said to be extremely dangerous and were being guarded by hoards of armed police suddenly are free to go. Why?”
Mukoko, Mtetwa reported, had to provide securities worth 20,000 dollars (15,900 euros) and surrender her passport. “She has to report twice a week to police,” Mtetwa said.
“Her basic rights and liberties are still being severely restricted, it’s not like she is just been released without any conditions.”
