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Freedom
House condemns crackdown on peaceful WOZA protest in Zimbabwe
Freedom House
September 21, 2011
http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=70&release=1492
Freedom House
condemns today's arrest
of members of the Women
and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) during a peaceful demonstration,
and strongly condemns the continued crackdown on freedom of expression
and other basic human rights by Zimbabwean authorities. Freedom
House is concerned that those arrested face imminent danger of abuse
and torture in prison and calls for their immediate release.
The demonstration,
which took place in the Mhlahlandlela government complex, was to
commemorate the International Day of Peace. WOZA was distributing
leaflets and flowers when interrupted by nearly 50 riot police,
who rounded up the group and beat them with batons - claiming they
had "no permission" to march. Police arrested 12 women,
according to a lawyer from the Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights, including WOZA leaders Jenni Williams
and Magadonga Mahlangu. WOZA has been a frequent and brutal target
of Zimbabwean authorities as a result of their legitimate activities
that address many of the most crucial human rights issues facing
Zimbabwean women, including domestic violence and rape, the rights
to food and education for children, and the rights to participation
and association. The group has called for police to follow standards
set out in the Police Act and has fought against corruption in Parliament
as well as sued the co-Ministers of Home Affairs over inhumane conditions
in the Harare Central Police Station.
"The horrific
use of violence by police against peaceful demonstrators on a day
intended to bring about peace is an unacceptable violation of the
fundamental human rights of Zimbabweans, including freedom of speech
and assembly. Freedom House is particularly concerned that ZANU-PF
will follow through on threats to place these women in male prison
wards," said Paula Schriefer, director of advocacy at Freedom
House. "Freedom House calls for the immediate release of all
twelve women, and for the Zimbabwean authorities to halt its targeted
assault on WOZA and like-minded organizations."
State-sponsored
political violence in Zimbabwe is a serious and chronic problem.
Independent activists, politicians, and supporters of the Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) continue to suffer from harassment,
assault, and arbitrary detention by security forces and militias
aligned with ZANU-PF. The nongovernmental sector in Zimbabwe is
vibrant and resolute, but nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have
faced increasing legal restrictions and extralegal harassment. In
February 2011, 46 academics, students, and other onlookers were
arrested, detained and tortured for allegedly planning a revolt
against the government while watching a video of street demonstrations
in Cairo. At a recent workshop for youth on politics, ZANU-PF militants
ransacked the meeting and prevented U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe,
Charles Ray, from addressing those assembled.
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