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Congolese editor jailed for libel Congolese editor jailed for libel
(7 months later)
The editor of a daily newspaper in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has started to serve a six-month jail term after being convicted of criminal libel. Joachim Diana Gikupa was taken into custody last week.The editor of a daily newspaper in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has started to serve a six-month jail term after being convicted of criminal libel. Joachim Diana Gikupa was taken into custody last week.
He was charged after publishing an article in his Kinshasa-based newspaper, La Colombe, last February which reported that a Chinese company was selling expired medication. The company, Gen Taï, denied the allegations and filed a complaint against Gikupa.He was charged after publishing an article in his Kinshasa-based newspaper, La Colombe, last February which reported that a Chinese company was selling expired medication. The company, Gen Taï, denied the allegations and filed a complaint against Gikupa.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the DRC to release the journalist on bail pending his appeal and argued that the paper was reporting on an issue of public interest.The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the DRC to release the journalist on bail pending his appeal and argued that the paper was reporting on an issue of public interest.
Mohamed Keita, the CPJ's Africa advocacy coordinator, said: "We urge the DRC to refer matters of defamation to civilian tribunals. Critical journalists are not criminals."Mohamed Keita, the CPJ's Africa advocacy coordinator, said: "We urge the DRC to refer matters of defamation to civilian tribunals. Critical journalists are not criminals."
Sources: CPJ/UPISources: CPJ/UPI
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