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Tanzanian human rights activist freed after two years in jail

Tanzanian human rights activist Tito Magoti has been freed from prison after two years under a plea bargain over alleged economic crimes, his lawyer announced on Tuesday.
Magoti, of the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), was arrested in December 2019 in Dar es Salaam.
His case drew international attention after Amnesty slammed his ongoing detention as a bid to silence government critics.
He was charged with various economic crimes, including money laundering, possession of a computer program designed for the purpose of committing an offence and leading organized crime.
The prosecution dropped the first two charges and kept that of organized crime against Magoti and his co-accused, a fellow member of the LHRC, Theodory Giyani.
The two paid 17 million Tanzanian shillings ($7,300 / 6,000 euros) for their release after agreeing to plead guilty.
“The two agreed to plead guilty in the plea bargaining,” Kambole posted on Twitter.
“It should be remembered that they have been in detention for more than a year pending investigations,” he said.
The case was postponed 26 times before it entered into plea bargaining on Tuesday, the LHRC said.
Amnesty International called the detention “an affront to justice and a clear attempt to silence government critics by keeping them behind bars.”
President John Magufuli, who won a disputed second term in October 2020 elections, has been accused of intimidating the opposition and suppressing democracy and human rights.
Last year, journalist Erick Kabendera was also released after seven months in detention. He pleaded guilty over money laundering and tax evasion charges in plea bargaining.
source: AFP
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Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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