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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Index of articles on the mistreatment of the legal profession in Zimbabwe
(LSSA)
calls on Zim authorities to cease harassment & intimidation
of human rights lawyers
Law Society of South Africa (LSSA)
May 07, 2007
Visit
the special index page on the mistreatment of the legal profession
in Zimbabwe
The Law Society
of South Africa (LSSA) expresses its grave concern at the ongoing
harassment of human rights lawyers in Zimbabwe by the Zimbabwean
authorities. The LSSA urges the Zimbabwean authorities to safeguard
the right of legal practitioners to practise freely without fear
of intimidation, arrest or assault.
'Lawyers
must be able to attend court and to consult freely with their clients
to provide effective representation and to protect their clients'
rights and freedoms. Lawyers must have proper and unfettered access
to the courts and to their clients, and the lawyer-client relationship
must be protected,' says LSSA Chief Executive Officer, Raj
Daya.
Mr Daya urged
the Zimbabwean authorities at all times to respect the rule of law,
carry out the orders of the courts and uphold the independence of
the judiciary and of legal practitioners.
'The LSSA
also expresses its support to the Law Society of Zimbabwe, its President
Beatrice Mtetwa, and its members, and for the work being done by
Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR). The LSSA joins these legal
organisations in strongly condemning the recent arrest and detention
of human rights lawyers Alec Muchadehama and Andrew Makoni. 'Although
the two lawyers have been released, we agree with the ZLHR that
the actions of the Zimbabwean authorities cannot be tolerated or
condoned in a democratic society,' says Mr Daya.
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