Zimbabwe treason trialists released on bail

By Ken Olende
from Socialist Worker UK

A Zimbabwean judge yesterday released on bail the six socialists facing the death penalty for watching a video on the Middle East uprisings.

The judge said that the state's case might collapse as it was "not a strong one".

The release is a major step forward—since their arrest the six have been tortured, denied medical care, held in solitary confinement and forced to work.

Pressure from an international solidarity campaign has been vital in influencing Robert Mugabe's repressive government. The bail is $2,000 US dollars for each of the accused, so their supporters have had to put forward $12,000. Please keep giving to the campaign.

The strict bail terms also demand the accused reside at certain defined addresses and report to the police three times a week.

Originally 45 people were arrested when police surrounded a meeting organised by the International Socialist Organisation on 19 February. The police stormed the meeting in Zimbabwe's capital Harare after they had watched a video about the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, and were holding a discussion. Of these 39 were later released without charge.