Law Society calls for release of Zimbabwean human rights lawyer

The representative body of lawyers in England and Wales has called for the immediate release of high-profile human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, who was previously the president of the Zimbabwe Law Society.

Harare: human rights lawyer arrested

Ms Mtetwa was arrested at the weekend after she tried to make enquiries as to the reason why her client Thabani Mpofu was under arrest.
According to a Law Society press release, she is detained at the Harare Central Police Station.

Role of lawyers

In a statement yesterday, the Law Society claimed that the arrest of Ms Mtetwa does not comply with United Nations basic principles on the role of lawyers.
Law Society chief executive Desmond Hudson added: ‘This blatant lack of respect for the role of lawyers in the structure of democratic society demonstrates how the rule of law is yet to be fully established in Zimbabwe.
‘Ms Mtetwa was carrying out her duties as a lawyer. Her arrest marks a new low in relations between the Zimbabwe State and the legal profession.'

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