ZANZIBAR: Uamsho men suffering in remand, say lawyers

By The Citizen Correspondent, Zanzibar. 

Defence lawyers’ of leaders of the controversial Islamic group, Uamsho, yesterday claimed before the High Court of Zanzibar that their clients were being subjected to inhumane treatment.The lawyers -- led by advocates Abdallah Juma, Suleiman Salum and Salim Tawfik -- told the court that the Uamsho leaders were now being subjected to all sorts of harassment, including being denied their fundamental human rights such as being served with meals prepared in their homes.

The leaders are facing charges of inciting violence and causing chaos at Magogoni Amana Mosque and its neighbourhood. The defence lawyers claimed that mistreatment subjected on the leaders, including Sheikh Farid Hadi Ahmed, 41, were being committed by police in collaboration with security agents working  for the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (SMZ).

The lawyers mentioned some more of the violation of their clients’ human rights as including denial to change clothes and being forced to shave their beards contrary to the Constitution’s stipulation of the right to a religious belief. “Our clients have been denied to change their clothes since they were arrested 17 days ago, at the same time they are locked in solitary cells for almost 24 hours a day, being allowed out briefly for cleaning in the morning,” they told the court.

They further said that their clients were made to sleep on the bare floor without any covering materials, while they were made to answer to the call of nature of call in buckets.

The lawyers said that their clients were generally not supposed to receive such treatment given the fact that they were only being accused and had not been convicted.

Responding, a lawyer from the Zanzibar Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Ramadhan Nasseeb, denied the claims saying law enforcement organs were observing the law to the letter. He said if the defence lawyers felt their clients were being denied their basic rights they should file a civil case asking the court to address the issue.

Six primary schools were closed down more than a fortnight ago as security agents patrolled the streets following the chaos that engulfed streets of Zanzibar.

Source: The Citizen (09/11/2012): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/4-national-news/27076-uamsho-men-suffering-in-remand-say-lawyers