Tanzania artist jailed for burning Suluhu's picture is freed
Africa
By
AFP
| Jul 09, 2024
A Tanzanian artist has been freed after paying a fine for setting fire to a picture of President Samia Suluhu Hassan in a viral TikTok video.
Shadrack Chaula, 24, was found guilty last week of disseminating offensive information online over the video, which saw him burn the photo and utter words that police said were offensive to the head of state.
The painter was released having been given a two-year sentence on Thursday on Monday from a prison in the southwestern city of Mbeya after activists raised the funds for his five million Tanzanian shilling ($1,900) fine.
READ MORE
Finance Act 2023 was illegally enacted, Azimio and 40 groups tell court
AG, Treasury plead with apex court to allow Ruto collect tax
Relief for Ruto as court unlocks Finance Act 2023
Empty promises crush dreams of KCSE star to pursue medicine course
Fuel prices remain unchanged as regulator ignores court ruling on VAT
Confusion rocks tax payment after ruling on Finance Act 2023
Tough options for Ruto after court blow to Finance Act 2023
Eastern DR Congo buffeted by fresh flareups with ADF, M23 rebels
Ruto hangs on Uhuru's law to raise funds after court's big blow
Experts weigh in on Court of Appeal ruling on 2023 Finance Bill
"Thank you all fellow Tanzanians and the lawyers for standing together to defend me," Chaula said in a video after his release.
His lawyer Michael Mwangasa confirmed the fine had been paid but said he still planned to appeal the sentence, claiming some legal processes were violated during Chaula's trial.
Mbeya regional police chief Benjamin Kuzaga said after the arrest of Chaula that his diatribe against Hassan was "very strong" and described the burning of the photo as "humiliation".
Speaking in Swahili in the video, Chaula called for the government to "hang her to death", accusing Hassan of killing her predecessor John Magufuli and of "accepting homosexuality in Tanzania".
Hassan, then deputy president, took office in 2021 after the death of Magafuli and is expected to contest elections due in 2025.
Since taking the helm, Hassan has moved away from Magafuli's authoritarian policies and embarked on political reforms, including relaxing some restrictions on the media and the opposition.