Human rights group on Thursday called for the immediate release of Zimbabwe’s pastor Evan Mawarire of #This Flag campaign.
“The authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Pastor Evan Mawarire, as he is a prisoner of conscience imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of his rights,” Amnesty deputy regional director for South Africa Muleya Mwananyanda said in a statement, CNN reports.
Muleya further said that his arrest was meant to make him stop his human rights activism and punish him for speaking out about the declining human rights situation in Zimbabwe.
Mawarire was arrested on Wednesday at Harare International Airport upon arrival from the United States.
Mawarire had fled to the United States after leading #ThisFlag protests against President Mugabe’s government.
#ThisFlag movement is aimed at ending corruption and bring transparency and accountability to the government and president Mugabe.
He is being charged with “subverting a constitutionally elected government “and faces up to 20 years in prison.
