ABA commends court's decision to release human rights lawyer and editor
The ABA is commending the Swaziland Supreme Court decision to release a human rights lawyer and an editor who were sent to prison for publishing articles questioning the independence of the judiciary.
The court overturned the contempt of court convictions last Tuesday of lawyer Thulani Maseko and Nation editor Bheki Makhubu, report the Associated Press and IOL News. Maseko and Makhubu were arrested in March 2014 and were each sentenced to two years in prison for contempt of court.
The ABA had previously said it viewed the convictions as “a serious threat to the independence of the legal profession in Swaziland.” In the new statement, the ABA says it “welcomes this development in Swaziland and hopes the judiciary continues to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights and the rule of law in Swaziland.”
Journalist Nimrod Mabuza, who acted as the Nation’s editor after Makhubu’s arrest, says the decision comes after the firing of Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi, who was the subject of some of the articles, and the replacement of other Supreme Court justices.
See also:
ABA Journal: “The most dangerous job in law”
