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TEHRAN, Feb 21 - Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused the Mozambican government Thursday of arbitrarily detaining journalists covering the fight against a jihadist insurgency in the country's north.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - About half-a dozen journalists have been arrested in the line of duty since last June, as well as drivers, interpreters, and other crew members, according to an AFP count.
Two reporters remain in custody.
"Mozambique’s state security forces are intimidating, detaining, and prosecuting journalists covering the fighting against an armed Islamist group in the northern province of Cabo Delgado," HRW said in a statement.
State forces are battling a group reportedly seeking to impose Sharia law in the Muslim-majority province.
Originally known as Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jama -- Arabic for "followers of the prophet" -- the group is commonly referred to by locals and officials as "Al-Shabaab", although it has no known link to the notorious Somali jihadist group of the same name.
Since October 2017, Islamist fighters have terrorised remote communities in the gas-rich region, killing about 200 people and forcing thousands from their homes.
Source: AFP
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