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![Activists hold posters and chant to pay tribute to the assassinated Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/eswatini-Thulani-justice-impunity-getty-768x512.jpg)
Eswatini: Still no justice for 2021 violence
Two years after a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters by security forces, authorities in eSwatini continue to resist calls for democratic reform.
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States in Southern Africa cracking down on free expression online
Countries in the SADC region are being urged to take a human rights based approach when crafting cybersecurity and cybercrime legislation.
![In this photo taken Wednesday, June 4, 2014, lawyer Thulani Maseko, appears in court in the traditional animal skin garb of a Zulu warrior, in Mbabane, Swaziland. , AP Photo/Nkosingiphile Myeni-The Nation Magazine](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/swaziland_thulanimaseko_18july2014_apimages.jpg)
Regional coalition calls for independent investigation into Thulani Maseko’s assassination
The Spaces of Solidarity network is adamant that the failure to carry out a thorough and credible investigation into the murder of human rights lawyer, Thulani Maseko, will only foster the growing culture of impunity in eSwatini.
![Cars queue up for petrol on a street in Mbabane, Eswatini, on 3 July 2021, as a tense calm returned to the country after days of widespread pro-democracy protests, -/AFP via Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/eswatini-swaziland-protest-journalists-attacked-petrol-getty-768x511.jpg)
Two South African journalists tortured by Swazi authorities
“New Frame” journalists Magnificent Mndebele and Cebelihle Mbuyisa were detained, assaulted and forced to delete footage of the funeral of a police shooting victim, which they had just attended.
![The King of Eswatini Mswati III walks past the guard of honor as he is welcomed by the President of Senegal, during a visit to Dakar, 5 July 2019, Alaattin Dogru/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/eswatini-swaziland-king-mswati-media-freedom-getty-768x511.jpg)
Concerns about freedom of expression violations expressed in letter to King Mswati III
IFEX is among the groups that have endorsed a MISA letter to King Mswati III expressing deep worry and calling on authorities to do everything possible to ensure that media workers are protected and are not subject to wanton attacks by security forces.
![A vendor checks her phone, outside the Oshoek border-post on the South African side of the border with Eswatini, 2 July 2021, as calm returned to Eswatini after days of pro-democracy protests. RODGER BOSCH/AFP via Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/eswatini-swaziland-protests-internet-getty-768x511.jpg)
Joint Petition on the need to ensure internet availability at all times in Eswatini
IFEX joined a number of groups in petitioning the Prime Minister to ensure that the internet, social media platforms, and all other communication channels are open, secure, and accessible regardless of the protests that were taking place in Eswatini.
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eSwatini authorities persecuting editor and journalists
Eugene Dube, the editor of the popular news site “Swati Newsweek”, and two journalists are being hounded by authorities for stories critical of King Mswati.
![In this 4 June 2014 file photo, Swazi lawyer Thulani Maseko appears in court in Mbabane, Swaziland, Nkosingiphile Myeni/The Nation Magazine via AP, FILE](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/swaziland_thulanimaseko_18july2014_apimages_468.jpg)
Swazi editor and human rights lawyer released after 15 months in prison
Bheki Makhubu and Thulani Maseko were acquitted by the Supreme Court on 30 June 2015. The editor and human rights lawyer had been charged with contempt of court in 2014 for writing articles criticising the Swazi judiciary.
![In this photo taken on 4 June 2014, lawyer Thulani Maseko appears in court in the traditional animal skin garb of a Zulu warrior, in Mbabane, Swaziland, AP Photo/Nkosingiphile Myeni-The Nation Magazine](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/swaziland_maseko_trial_25march2015_ap.jpg)
Swazi human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko placed in solitary confinement
On 19 March 2015, Thulani Maseko was placed into solitary confinement for 21 days, following a letter he wrote on the one-year anniversary of his detention.
![Times of Swaziland/MISA-Swaziland](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/swaziland_masekoarrested_misaswaziland_17april2014_cropped.jpg)
Swaziland doesn’t want you to care about these government critics. Here’s why you should.
They don’t write for The New York Times or The Daily Mail. And the Swazi government is counting on just that to keep Bheki Makhubu and Thulani Maseko in jail for criticizing the judiciary.
![Link to: Huge libel damages aim to throttle Swaziland’s only independent daily](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
Huge libel damages aim to throttle Swaziland’s only independent daily
The high court of Swaziland awarded damages of 550,000 lilangeni (41,000 euros) against the Times of Swaziland. The record sum is tantamount to a death sentence for the country’s only privately-owned daily.
![Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe listens to speakers at the 34th Southern African Development Conference (SADC) summit in Victoria Falls, 17 August 2014, REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/zimbabwe_sadc_18august2014_reuters.jpg)
Southern African Development Community: Address free expression, human rights in member countries
As the 15 member states of SADC prepare to meet for the 34th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe on August 17 and 18, 2014, the three human rights organizations drew attention to serious human rights concerns in Angola, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
![Link to: Editor and lawyer who criticised Swazi judiciary given two-year prison sentences](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
Editor and lawyer who criticised Swazi judiciary given two-year prison sentences
The harsh sentence follows Makhubu’s and Maseko’s conviction on contempt of court charges for separate news articles criticising the kingdom’s chief justice, Michael Ramodibedi, published in the independent news magazine, The Nation.
![Link to: Writers Maseko, Makhubu given two-year jail terms for contempt of court in Swaziland](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
Writers Maseko, Makhubu given two-year jail terms for contempt of court in Swaziland
The judge in charge of the case, Mpendulo Simelane, said the sentences were intended as “a deterrent not only to the appellants to abstain from similar behaviours in the future but also to others who may have a like-minded scheme in contemplation.”