The Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday asked authorities in Cameroon to release a newspaper editor, Amungwa Tanyi Nicodemus, who has been imprisoned since March 29.
The editor was imprisoned after being convicted of criminal defamation.
The AU’s special rapporteur on freedom of expression and access to information has called for the repeal of criminal defamation laws on the continent.
The CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator, Mohamed Keita, said: “Defamation complaints against the press should be settled before civil court.
“Journalists are too often sent to prison in order to suppress allegations of corruption.
“We call on authorities in Yaounde to release Amungwa Tanyi Nicodemus pending his appeal.”
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