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Two British journalists acquitted after two weeks in detention
Reporters sans frontières / Reporters Without Borders
April 14 2005

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=13131

Reporters Without Borders voiced relief at the acquittal and release today of British journalists Toby Harden and Julian Simmonds of the London-based Sunday Telegraph, who had been accused of breaking Zimbabwe's press law. Judge Never Diza said the authorities failed to produce evidence of their guilt.

"We are deeply relieved that Toby Harden and Julian Simmonds have finally been acquitted after two weeks under arrest and a revolting show trial," the organization said. "It is obvious the Zimbabwean government wanted to make an example of them. The case is now closed but this depressing episode joins the long list of press freedom violations which clearly has not yet reached its end."

The two journalists were arrested on 31 March, on the day of legislative elections, and were accused of violating a press law under which journalists who work without being accredited with the government-controlled Media and Information Commission (MIC) can be sentenced to imprisonment.

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