Paul Kasonkomona found not guilty

Paul Kasonkomona, a human rights activists working in Zambia, has been acquitted after almost a year of legal proceedings.
He was arrested in April 2013 after appearing on Zambian television calling on the government to decriminalise homosexuality and sex work to combat the spread of HIV. He was charged with āsoliciting in a public place for immoral purposesā.
Magistrate Lameck Ngāambi at the Lusaka Magistratesā Court found that the government had not proved its case against Paul.
Anneke Meerkotter of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre said the acquittal was a āgreat victory for freedom of expression in Zambiaā and a step forward for gay rights.
āKasonkomona did not deserve to be arrested for expressing his opinion and the court ruling vindicates his rights,ā she said.
The magistrate had clearly stated that public discussion was important in a democracy, she said, even on controversial matters and matters that were āuncomfortable to many peopleā, such as gay rights.
Meerkotter said that this ruling would encourage people to speak out openly about topics of āreal importanceā to Zambians.
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