Alerts | Arrest/detention/charges

Two journalists in detention over allegation of defamation

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  • On November 13, journalists Loïc Lawson and Anani Sossou were arrested by the Togolese police and detained through a court order on November 15 over an allegation of defamation against the minister of urban planning, housing and land reform, Kodjo Adedze. This incident followed comments made on Facebook by the journalists about the amount of money stolen from the house of the minister. The minister, who had indeed reported the burglary to the police without the amount being made public, filed a complaint against them. In Togo, the Press Code decriminalized media offenses, but criminalized criticism made on social media by journalists by invoking the Penal Code. On December 1, the two journalists  were released from prison, but placed under judicial control.

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