Protesters plan to sue police
Publish date: 19 October 2020
Issue Number: 895
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: Namibia
Protesters against sexual gender-based violence in Namibia say they plan to sue the police after 24 activists and journalists were arrested in Windhoek on Saturday. New Era reports that they were charged with contravening the Public Gatherings Proclamation Act but released because the Prosecutor-General dismissed the case. ‘We are now taking instructions to institute legal action against the Inspector-General of the Namibian Police for unlawful arrest and detention,’ said Samson Enkali, one of the lawyers representing the activists. The Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) condemned the police for using excessive force against the protesters. ‘The use of tear gas against the protesters is neither reasonable not justified. In a democratic country, we are permitted to raise our voices,’ said LAC director Toni Hancox.