Detained CPJ staffers released in Tanzania
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 8 November 2018
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Angela Quintal and Muthoki Mumo were detained in Tanzania while investigating press challenges. Their release highlights ongoing concerns about press freedom in the country.Summary
NEW YORK - The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday welcomed the release of Angela Quintal, CPJ's Africa program coordinator, and Muthoki Mumo, CPJ's sub-Saharan Africa representative, from detention in Tanzania and called for Tanzanian authorities to halt their ongoing crackdown against a free press.
Quintal and Mumo were detained on Wednesday at their hotel in Dar es Salaam by immigration and security officials, taken to an unknown location, and interrogated about their work. They were allowed back to their hotel after several hours of questioning. Their passports were seized and only returned midday today.
During their detention, Quintal and Mumo's phones and computers were also seized. While they were detained, a false tweet saying they had been released was sent from Quintal's personal Twitter account and repeated attempts were made to access Quintal's email. The two CPJ staff members have now safely left Tanzania.
CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon expressed gratitude and appreciation to journalists, media and press freedom organizations, and government officials who spoke out about Quintal and Mumo's detention. Simon noted, in particular, the assistance of the South African and Kenyan governments.
"Angela Quintal and Muthoki Mumo traveled to Tanzania to understand the challenges facing the Tanzanian press and to inform the global public," Simon noted. "It is deeply ironic that through their unjustified and abusive detention of our colleagues, Tanzanian authorities have made their work that much easier. It is now abundantly clear to anyone who followed the latest developments that Tanzanian journalists work in a climate of fear of intimidation. We call on the government of Tanzania to allow journalists to work freely and to allow those who defend their rights to access the country without interference." – A CPJ statement
Key Points
- Quintal and Mumo were detained by Tanzanian authorities at their hotel in Dar es Salaam.
- Their passports, phones, and computers were seized during the detention.
- CPJ calls for an end to the crackdown on journalists in Tanzania.
- The release is seen as a crucial step for press freedoms amidst a climate of intimidation.
- International support played a significant role in their release.
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