Jenni Williams-Women of Zimbabwe Arise
[UPDATE 10:00: Jenni has been released. Just another effort on the part of the Zimbabwe police to intimidate human rights defenders. Thank you to everyone for standing in solidarity through your phone calls on her behalf. ]
This morning, the 83 activists who spent two nights in jail at Harare Central, were released on bail after being charged with “criminal nuisance.” Jenni Williams, National Coordinator of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) met the activists across the street, along with other leadership members, to greet them upon their release. While speaking with the activists to determine who needed medical assistance, police approached the group and demanded Jenni accompany them into the police station.
She is accused of “addressing a gathering” and being held at the Magistrate’s Court until transport can be provided to Harare Central. WOZA has filed suit against members of Zimbabwe’s government over conditions at Harare Central. Jenni and 70 other WOZA activists were arrested and detained at Harare Central in April. Below is information provided in their complaint:
“When they got to the cells, their senses were assaulted by the choking smell of human excreta, and flowing urine of varying colours. Even the beds were covered with human excreta, so they sat and spent the night huddled in the corridors of the cells, as they could not sit inside the cells due to the faeces. However, even the corridor itself had flowing urine and they had to use their own tissues, to clean up the area where they planned to sit on.”
Please call Harare Central and demand that Jenni be released immediately! 011 +263 4 777777
Hello, I tried calling but there´s no reply and I had the impression that someone picked up the phone and hang up immediately before I was able to say anything. Is there any other way of contacting Harare Central? Thanks!
Thanks for calling Carola. What happened to you is the normal response. They tend to get very irritated when Amnesty activists bombard them with phone calls. I rarely get to actually talk to anyone on the phone. Sometimes they just take the phone off the hook. Two years ago, at the height of the political violence, our researcher was pulled aside by a police captain who was infuriated that we basically killed off his fax machine. Yay, us!
So keep making those phone calls because trust me, they know EXACTLY who is calling and it works to help keep Jenni, other WOZA members and all other human rights defenders in Zimbabwe safe while incarcerated.
Sarah
Zimbabwe Country Specialist
Hello, I tried calling but there´s no reply and I had the impression that someone picked up the phone and hang up immediately before I was able to say anything. Is there any other way of contacting Harare Central? Thanks!
Thanks for calling Carola. What happened to you is the normal response. They tend to get very irritated when Amnesty activists bombard them with phone calls. I rarely get to actually talk to anyone on the phone. Sometimes they just take the phone off the hook. Two years ago, at the height of the political violence, our researcher was pulled aside by a police captain who was infuriated that we basically killed off his fax machine. Yay, us!
So keep making those phone calls because trust me, they know EXACTLY who is calling and it works to help keep Jenni, other WOZA members and all other human rights defenders in Zimbabwe safe while incarcerated.
Sarah
Zimbabwe Country Specialist
Presently I am in Singapore and I called the number at 17h32 (my time) on the 23rd of September 2010 …let it rang about 20 time, then a busy sound came and stop so I said in the void (hoping that someone was actually there): please release Jenni Williams twice, then Thank you! and hang up as I had the impression the other side had hang up!!
Hope it makes one more call…..
Best,
Dominique
Presently I am in Singapore and I called the number at 17h32 (my time) on the 23rd of September 2010 …let it rang about 20 time, then a busy sound came and stop so I said in the void (hoping that someone was actually there): please release Jenni Williams twice, then Thank you! and hang up as I had the impression the other side had hang up!!
Hope it makes one more call…..
Best,
Dominique
Thanks for calling Dominique! Every call matters, every time these brave women are jailed. Thank you for taking time out of your day to take action.
In solidarity,
Sarah
Thanks for calling Dominique! Every call matters, every time these brave women are jailed. Thank you for taking time out of your day to take action.
In solidarity,
Sarah