Thulani Maseko, the human
rights lawyer and journalist, has been moved to solitary confinement in prison
as punishment for writing a letter thanking his supporters. One leading rights organisation has said this
could be considered ‘torture’.
Maseko, with Bhekhi
Makhubu, the editor of the Nation
magazine, have been in jail for a year after writing and publishing articles in the Nation
that were critical of the judiciary in Swaziland.
The pair were at first
remanded in custody and then in July 2014 sentenced to two years imprisonment for contempt of court. The jailing
created an international outcry.
The letter which was widely circulated on the Internet and in social media had
been distributed by Robert F Kennedy Human Rights in Washington.
Now,
the organisation has reported that following the
circulation of the letter Maseko was moved into solitary confinement and denied
access to his lawyer and all other visitors.
Kerry Kennedy, President
of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, said in a
statement, ‘Authorities are clearly
acting in retaliation for Thulani’s prison letter, which merely expressed
appreciation to the thousands of people across the world that have stood by him
and his family during his incarceration.’
He added, ‘The cruel
decision to move Thulani into solitary confinement and deny him visitors is yet
another brazen indication that the Swazi regime has no regard for the basic
human rights of its people.’
Swaziland is ruled by
King Mswati III, the last absolute monarch in sub-Saharan Africa. He chooses
the government and members of the judiciary. Political parties are banned from
taking part in elections and groups campaigning for multi-party democracy in
the kingdom have been banned under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.
Santiago A. Canton,
Executive Director of RFK Partners for Human Rights, said, ‘This week’s decision
to move Thulani Maseko to solitary confinement is both dehumanizing and could
be considered torture.’
He added, ‘The conditions
in Swaziland faced by Thulani Maseko, and other prisoners of conscience like
him, of which there are many, are a violation of international law and
authorities should address this issue at once.’
See also
SWAZI
JOURNALIST’S PRISON LETTER
SUPPORT
FOR JAILED SWAZI JOURNALISTS
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