Prosecution of Zimbabwean human rights activist Jestina Mukoko ended

Zimbabwe's Supreme Court ordered a permanent stay of the criminal proceedings against prominent human rights activist Jestina Mukoko on Monday. The director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) and prominent human rights activist was facing criminal proceedings on charges of recruiting persons for training as insurgents or saboteurs. She was accused of trying to topple Mugabes regime.

Demonstration for release of Jestina Mukoko (c) bbc.co.uk

The charges followed the arrest and subsequent temporary disappearance of Jestina Mukoko and 23 other activists in December 2008. It was only in January that all were located as they were brought before the Harare Court. They all have credible claims of torture and the trumped up charges of terrorism and banditry suggest political motives behind the arrests.

National and international organisations, including Aim for human rights, have pressured Zimbabwe to release Jestina Mukoko and the other activists or to guarantee a fair trial.

See the news release of Amnesty International