Human Rights Commission Demands Tukuta’s Release

The Human Rights Commission has called for the immediate release of celebrity photographer Chellah Tukuta, after he was arrested for sharing defamatory statements about government officials on social media. 

Commission spokesman Mweela Muleya called Tukuta’s continued detention for offences that should qualify for bond a violation of his human rights. 

The Commissions is therefore calling on the Zambia Police Service to release Mr Tukuta on bond or to take him to court, arguing that his continued detention without trial is a violation of his rights. 

Mr Tukuta has been in police custody for over seven days on charges of criminal libel, threatening violence and racial discrimination. 

Mr Muleya explained that this punishment made a mockery of Zambia’s legal system.

“Over-detention constitutes extra-judicial punishment and must not be allowed in a democracy where there must be respect for the rule of law, constitutionalism, and human rights. Therefore Law Enforcement Officers must refrain from unlawfully punishing, humiliating and degrading suspects during their course of executing their mandate of enforcing the law, which is critical to the criminal justice system of any country,” he said.

Mr Tukuta was arrested last Thursday for allegedly producing derogatory films targeted at Information Minister Dora Siliya, ZRA Commissioner General Kingsely Chanda, and Former Special Assistant to the President Amos Chanda. 

The photographer refused to apologise for his videos, in which he accused several government officials of corruption. 

Chellah Tukuta