Zimbabweans appeal over convictions for watching Arab spring videos

Six activists were given suspended sentences for conspiring to commit violence after watching footage of Arab uprisings

guardian.co.uk, Associated Press in Harare, Monday 26 March 2012

Egyptians celebrate after Hosni Mubarak was ousted from power. Six
Zimbabweans were convicted after watching videos of Arab uprisings.
Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images

Lawyers for six Zimbabwean activists convicted of conspiring to commit violence for watching videos of Arab uprisings say they are appealing against their conviction and sentences.

The lawyer Alec Muchadehama said on Monday he had filed appeal papers arguing that if the group did plot violence at their February 2011 meeting, as the court found, they should have been prosecuted for treason, a charge that carries a possible death sentence. The group says the court's ruling is "misguided".

Muchadehama says he is applying for the fines, suspended jail sentences and community service handed to the group to be set aside. The court ruling was also based on evidence of a "dishonest witness" who lied about his true identity as a police officer when he infiltrated the group, he said.

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