Amnesty Worldwide has urged authorities in Angola to free 4 activists who have been detained a 12 months in the past for planning a peaceable protest, and an influencer who criticised the president in a TikTok video.
The 4 activists have been arrested in September final 12 months earlier than a protest towards restrictions on motorbike taxi drivers. They have been sentenced to 2 years and 5 months in jail for “disobedience and resisting orders”. The well being of three of the 4 activists has deteriorated sharply in jail, Amnesty mentioned.
The southern African nation’s authorities often clamps down on dissent. In August, the president, João Lourenço, signed into legislation two sweeping payments that prolonged safety forces’ management over the media and permitted jail sentences of as much as 25 years for protests that trigger “vandalism” or service disruptions.
Vongai Chikwanda, Amnesty Worldwide’s deputy director for east and southern Africa, mentioned: “One 12 months in jail merely for peacefully protesting is a travesty of justice. We see a troubling sample of Angolan authorities withholding medical care as a way of punishing peaceable dissent, amounting to torture.”
Adolfo Campos was in good well being when he was imprisoned however has since misplaced a lot of his imaginative and prescient and turn out to be fully deaf in a single ear, Amnesty mentioned.
It mentioned jail docs advisable in February that Campos obtain surgical procedure externally, however that had been blocked.
Hermenegildo Victor José, referred to as Gildo das Ruas, additionally entered jail with no well being issues. In June he began experiencing fever and aches, however he was not allowed to see a health care provider till the start of August.
Das Ruas now can not stand for greater than half-hour with out ache. A wheelchair was delivered to him on 15 August however he was initially stopped from utilizing it.
Gilson Moreira, referred to as Tanaice Neutro, has had bowel surgical procedure scheduled since 2022, which he was denied when he was imprisoned for 18 months. Amnesty Worldwide mentioned he had continued to be prevented from having surgical procedure.
Ana da Silva Miguel, an influencer also called Neth Nahara, was arrested in August final 12 months after she criticised the president in a TikTok livestream. Nahara, who’s HIV constructive, was denied her treatment for eight months, Amnesty mentioned.
Angola’s ministry of justice and human rights didn’t reply to requests for remark.
The oil-rich nation has lately been courted by the US and the EU as they search to fund infrastructure tasks and counter Chinese language affect.
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