Detained Zimbabwe activists 'severely tortured', says lawyer
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HARARE (AFP) – Seven Zimbabwean opposition activists accused in a series of bombings have been "severely tortured" by state security agents, their lawyer told a court Wednesday, urging a probe into the alleged abuse.
The activists include the director of security for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), as well as a former adviser to party leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
"From November 20, they were severely tortured while in police custody and and some of them were denied critical medication," lawyer Alec Muchadehama told a magistrate's court.
"No arrest took place. Each one of them is a victim of abduction and forced disappearance by state agents. None of them was arrested in terms of the law," he said.
"What we are seeking is that the court must urge the state to investigate the allegations of torture and report on the next remand date. If nothing happens we reserve the right to approach international courts for redress."
The accused were among 18 opposition and rights activists taken from their homes in separate incidents since October and detained at unknown locations.
They only began appearing in court on December 24, and stand accused of bombing two police stations in Harare as well as two bridges outside the capital "for the purposes of causing insurrection in Zimbabwe."
They denied the charges.
The activists include the director of security for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), as well as a former adviser to party leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
"From November 20, they were severely tortured while in police custody and and some of them were denied critical medication," lawyer Alec Muchadehama told a magistrate's court.
"No arrest took place. Each one of them is a victim of abduction and forced disappearance by state agents. None of them was arrested in terms of the law," he said.
"What we are seeking is that the court must urge the state to investigate the allegations of torture and report on the next remand date. If nothing happens we reserve the right to approach international courts for redress."
The accused were among 18 opposition and rights activists taken from their homes in separate incidents since October and detained at unknown locations.
They only began appearing in court on December 24, and stand accused of bombing two police stations in Harare as well as two bridges outside the capital "for the purposes of causing insurrection in Zimbabwe."
They denied the charges.
