Amnesty asks security agencies to End clampdown on critics of US, Israel
Amnesty International says it is deeply concerned by the “escalating clampdown” by the Department Of State Services (DSS) on social media commentaries on the ongoing war in the middle-east. At least two persons — both residents in Kaduna — have been detained and one of them is about to be subjected to a “sham trial […]
Amnesty International says it is deeply concerned by the “escalating clampdown” by the Department Of State Services (DSS) on social media commentaries on the ongoing war in the middle-east.
At least two persons — both residents in Kaduna — have been detained and one of them is about to be subjected to a “sham trial based on bogus charges”.
Amnesty International added that it had also received reports of critics of the U.S. and Israeli governments being ‘invited’ by the DSS.
In a statement on Friday, the human rights watchdog said, “These growing authoritarian practices by the Nigerian authorities undermine human rights and trust in the neutrality of state institutions and create a toxic climate of fear.
“Criticizing any government’s policies or its leaders is part of the right to freedom of expression which is protected under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and international human rights treaties including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which the country is a state party.
“Nigerian authorities must end the growing repression and attacks on critics simply for peacefully exercising their human rights. Targeting people for criticising the U.S. and Israeli governments would send a chilling message that peaceful dissent are not tolerated in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian authorities must uphold and ensure the human rights of everyone in the country including to freedom of expression online and offline and refrain from cracking down on critics of the U.S. and Israeli governments.”