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IBA
Human Rights Institute calls for immediate end to unlawful detention
International
Bar Association (IBA)
June 13, 2008
View article
on the Zimbabwean website
The International Bar
Association's Human Rights Institute [IBAHRI] today called
for the immediate end to the unlawful detention of Eric Matinenga,
an eminent Advocate of the Zimbabwe High Court and opposition Member
of Parliament. Mr Matinenga has been detained in police custody
despite a ruling by the Zimbabwe High Court on 8 June ordering his
release.
The IBAHRI said
it is alarmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions and Investigating
Police Officers have refused to comply with the court order. Mr
Matinenga's continued detention is a violation of both Article
18 of the Zimbabwe Constitution
and international standards concerning the treatment of uncharged
prisoners. 'Mr Matinenga is being punished for the sole reason
of having campaigned against state-orchestrated political violence,'
said Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association.
The IBAHRI further notes that conditions in which detainees are
held in Zimbabwe are very poor and that Mr Matinenga's lawyers have
been denied access to their client, in violation of international
law.
The IBAHRI called for
officials defying the court order to be investigated and held accountable
for their actions. 'The defiant disregard of a valid Zimbabwe
High Court order by police officials is a flagrant violation of
the rule of law,' stated Mr Ellis. 'The world is watching
as people in Mugabe's regime violate international law with
impunity. We continue to support the efforts to ensure that those
responsible for egregious human rights violations in Zimbabwe will
be held accountable.'
Mr Matinenga's
attorneys have filed contempt proceedings against the police officials
for failure to comply with the High Court's rulings, and expect
to have a hearing tomorrow.
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