Burundi: Jailed journalists appeal their sentence

Four Burundian journalists appeared in court on Wednesday to begin the process of appealing the two and a half year sentence they were given in January.

Térence Mpozenzi, Agnès Ndirubusa, Egide Harerimana and Christine Kamikazi, who all work for Iwacu, a private newspaper, were arrested in October when they were on their way to cover clashes between government forces and Red-Tabara rebels in Bubanza province.

The four were sentenced in January for “complicity in undermining the internal security of the state”, which was heavily condemned by the UN Human Rights Council.

Their lawyer, Clément Retirakiza, told reporters he hoped “the Court of Appeal will clean and release them”.

He said his clients were arrested while legally practicing their profession.

The international community, including rights groups, international journalist unions and parliamentarians from the European Union, have been quick to condemn the sentence.

The court said the appeal will take 30 days.

[Photo: Courtesy/Iwacu]