high-profile Angolan journalists, Rafael Marques de Moraies and editor Mariano Bras Lourenço have been acquitted.
Land mark press freedom judgement in Angola as journalist acquitted
Today’s court verdict that means acquittal of a high-profile Angolan journalist, Rafael Marques de Moraies and editor Mariano Bras Lourenço have been received with joy in the capital, Luanda.
Marques de Morais, announced this on his twitter handle on Friday, saying “Trial Over. Acquitted”.
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Rights activist, Zenaida Machado quoted the court as saying “we cannot punish messengers of bad news”.
“Angola court uploads freedom of press. Journalists Rafael Marques & Mariano Bras free to go. “We can’t punish messengers of bad news. [public workers] should get used to be criticized”, judge says. Let this be the beginning of an era where journalists can work freely in Angola”, he said.
Angola court uploads freedom of press. Journalists Rafael Marques & Mariano Bras free to go. “We can’t punish messengers of bad news. [public workers] should get used to be criticized”, judge says. Let this be the beginning of an era where journalists can work freely in AngolaMarques de Morais, who runs the anti-corruption website Maka Angola, and Mariano Bras Lourenço, who is the editor of the weekly newspaper O Crime, were charged on 21 June 2017 for publishing an article alleging illegal land acquisition involving former Attorney General João Maria de Sousa, says BBC.
A Human Rights Watch official has tweeted a picture of the two journalists and comments from the presiding judge saying: “We can’t punish messengers of bad news.”