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They urged Tanzanian authorities to allow Heche’s family and lawyers access to him and to publicly demonstrate that he is being treated humanely. The statement cautioned that continued silence from the state could amount to an enforced disappearance and a violation of both national and international human rights laws
Lissu, who finished second in the 2020 presidential race, was arrested in April and charged with treason over what prosecutors claim was a speech urging the public to rebel and disrupt the upcoming election. The vote is scheduled for later this month.
After the ruling, the treason charge was formally read out in court. Lissu admitted making the statements cited in the charge sheet but rejected the accusation of treason, insisting that “his words were political.”
Lissu, who is being held under constant surveillance in the prison’s death row section, also said he has been denied the right to worship.
They claim that on May 18 and 19, 2025, they were detained without explanation at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, had their passports confiscated, and were deported back to Kenya.
Geita MP Joseph Musukuma accused Kenyans of overstepping and disrespecting Tanzanian sovereignty.