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Malawi: Arrests Signal Deteriorating Rights Environment
The Malawi government's recent surge of arrests and threats against critics reflects its broader crackdown on free speech and other basic rights, Human Rights Watch said today. On March 9, 2012, Malawi's State House, the President's office, issued a statement warning journalists and human rights activists that those who insulted President Bingu wa Mutharika faced prosecution and up to two years in prison.
JOHANNESBURG
The Malawi government's recent surge of arrests and threats against critics reflects its broader crackdown on free speech and other basic rights, Human Rights Watch said today. On March 9, 2012, Malawi's State House, the President's office, issued a statement warning journalists and human rights activists that those who insulted President Bingu wa Mutharika faced prosecution and up to two years in prison.
On March 16, police without a warrant arrested John Kapito, the chairman of the government-funded Malawi Human Rights Commission and a prominent critic of the government's human rights record in Lilongwe, the capital, accusing him of possessing guns and seditious materials. Police conducted an extensive search of Kapito's home and car, apparently did not find weapons or the materials, but nonetheless charged him with possessing "materials with seditious words," and undocumented foreign exchange. He was released on bailon the same day.
On March 21, police arrested Atupele Muluzi, a prominent member of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) party and son of former President Bakili Muluzi, and charged him with inciting violence. Three days earlier, police and party supporters engaged in violent clashes at a party rally in Lilongwe, which Muluzi had been scheduled to address. Local civil society activists believe the charges against Muluzi are politically motivated.
"Arresting government critics is just the latest sign of increasing repression in Malawi," said Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "President Mutharika should take urgent steps to end the harassment and arrests of people seen as opposing the government."
Kapitohas been threatened frequently by senior government officials who accuse the Malawi Human Rights Commission of operating outside its jurisdiction. In August 2011, the commission reported on the killing of 19 people by police during July protests throughout the country. The report concluded that the police used excessive force against the protesters, and called on the government to investigate the killings.
Kapito and Muluzi are among several critics of the government, including human rights activists, journalists, and opposition members, who have been targeted by state security forces and supporters of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the past year for criticizing the government on human rights, governance, and the economy. Several human rights activists have been arbitrarily arrested while others have received death threats and been forced to go into hiding.There have been several firebomb attacks by unidentified assailants at the homes and offices of government critics.
On February 13, police arrested a prominent lawyer, Ralph Kasambara, and five of his security guards in Blantyre, after the guards apprehended three men carrying a petrol bomb at Kasambara's offices. Police charged Kasambara and his guards with assault. Several days earlier, two national newspapers had published interviews in which Kasambara criticized President Mutharika's record on human rights and governance, and called for his resignation. While the guards were immediately released on bail, Kasambara was detained for several days before being let out on bail.The three men who attempted the attack were released without charge.
In October 2011, police arrested five civil society activists - Habiba Osman, Billy Mayaya, Brian Nyasulu, Ben Chiza Mkandawire, and Comfort Chiseko - on charges of "holding an illegal demonstration." They were taking part in a small, peaceful demonstration outside parliament, calling on President Mutharika to hold a referendum, resign, and hold an early election. The activists were released on bail five days later.
In September, unidentified assailants threwpetrol bombsat the homes and offices of several government critics, including the activists Mcdonald Sembereka and Rafiq Hajat, and an opposition politician,Salim Bagus.
Police and ruling party supporters have also been implicated in the intimidation, arbitrary arrest, and beating of journalists attempting to report on political events.On October 11, police summoned and questioned two journalists from theMalawi News, Innocent Chitosi, a deputy editor, Archibald Kasakura,a reporter,andGeorge Kasakula of Weekend Nation, after the two papers published stories about the death of a student activist,Robert Chasowa.
On September 12, police arrested and questioned a journalist, Ernest Mhwayo, for taking pictures of President Mutharika's farm. Mhwayo was charged with "conduct likely to cause breach of peace" and released on the following day. Several journalists were beaten and detained by police in July as they covered demonstrations throughout the country.
"The Malawi government's increasing intolerance of any dissent should be strongly condemned byconcerned governments," Lefkow said.
Human Rights Watch is one of the world's leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, we give voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes. Our rigorous, objective investigations and strategic, targeted advocacy build intense pressure for action and raise the cost of human rights abuse. For 30 years, Human Rights Watch has worked tenaciously to lay the legal and moral groundwork for deep-rooted change and has fought to bring greater justice and security to people around the world.
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Kansas Editor Hopes $3 Million Payout for Police Raids Stops Future Attacks on Press
"In our democracy, the press is a watchdog against abuse," said Marion County Record publisher Eric Meyer. "If the watchdog itself is the target of abuse, and all it does is roll over, democracy suffers.”
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A Kansas county has agreed to pay $3 million over 2023 police raids of a local newspaper and multiple homes—one of which belonged to its elderly publisher, whose death shortly followed—sparking nationwide alarm over increasing attacks on the free press.
Marion County agreed to pay the seven-figure settlement and issue a formal apology to the publishers of the Marion County Record admitting that wrongdoing had occurred during the August 11, 2023 raids on the paper's newsroom and two homes.
The apology states that the Marion County Sheriff's Office "wishes to express its sincere regrets to Eric and Joan Meyer and Ruth and Ronald Herbel for its participation in the drafting and execution of the Marion Police Department’s search warrants on their homes and the Marion County Record. This likely would not have happened if established law had been reviewed and applied prior to the execution of the warrant."
Bernie Rhodes, an attorney for the Record, told the paper, "This is a first step—but a big step—in making sure that Joan Meyer’s death served a purpose, in making sure that the next crazed cop who thinks they can raid a newsroom understands the consequences are measured in millions of dollars."
Rhodes was referring to the 98-year-old Record co-owner, who was reportedly in good health for her age, but collapsed and died at her home in the immediate aftermath of the raid by Marion police and country sheriff's deputies.
"This is a first step—but a big step—in making sure that Joan Meyer’s death served a purpose."
Eric Meyer, Joan Meyer's son and the current publisher of the Record, said: “The admission of wrongdoing is the most important part. In our democracy, the press is a watchdog against abuse. If the watchdog itself is the target of abuse, and all it does is roll over, democracy suffers.”
According to the Record, awards include:
- $200,000 to Eric Meyer, whose home was raided and two computers and a cellphone seized;
- $250,000 to reporter Deb Gruver, whose cell phone was seized;
- $300,000 to the Record;
- $600,000 to reporter Phyllis Zorn, whose cell phone was seized;
- $650,000 to former vice mayor Ruth Herbel, whose computer and cell phone were seized, and her husband, Ron, whose dementia was aggravated by the raid on their home; and
- $1 million to the estate of Joan Meyer.
Record business manager Cheri Bentz—who suffered aggravation of health conditions following one of the raids—previously settled with the county for $50,000.
Katherine Jacobsen, the US, Canada, and Caribbean program coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists, hailed the settlement as "an important win for press freedom amid a growing trend of hostility toward those who hold power to account."
"Journalists must be able to work freely and without fear of having their homes raided and equipment seized due to the overreach of authorities," she added.
The raids—during which police seized the Record‘s electronic equipment, work product, and documentary materials—were conducted with search warrants related to an alleged identity theft investigation.
However, critics—who have called the warrants falsified and invalid—noted that the raids came as the Record investigated sexual misconduct allegations against then-Marion Police Chief Police Gideon Cody. The raids, they say, were motivated by Cody's desire to silence the paper's unfavorable reporting about him.
State District Judge Ryan Rosauer ruled last month that Cody likely committed a felony crime when he instructed a witness with whom he allegedly had an improper romantic relationship to delete text messages they exchanged before, during, and after the raids.
While Cody will not be tried in connection with Meyer's death or the 2023 raids, Rosauer ordered him to stand trial over the deleted texts.
Meyer at the time expressed dismay that Cody wasn't being tried for his mother's death or the raids. He also worried that Cody was being made a scapegoat, as other people and law enforcement agencies were involved in the incident.
Following the announcement of the settlement, Meyer said that "this never has been about money, the key issue always has been that no one is above the law."
"No one can trample on the First and Fourth Amendments for personal or political purposes and get away with it," he continued. "When my mother warned officers that the stress they were putting her under might lead to her death, she called what they were doing Hitler tactics."
"What keeps our democracy from descending as Germany did before World War II is the courage she demonstrated—and we’ve tried to continue—in fighting back," Meyer added.
"This never has been about money, the key issue always has been that no one is above the law."
Five consolidated federal civil rights lawsuits have been filed in the US District Court for the District of Kansas, alleging wrongful death, unlawful searches, retaliation for protected speech, and other claims tied to the raids.
“It’s a shame additional criminal charges aren’t possible,” Meyer said, “but the federal civil cases will do everything they can to discourage future abuses of power.”
Although unable to savor the Record's victory, Joan Meyer presciently told the officers raiding her home, "Boy, are you going to be in trouble."
“She was so right," said Rhodes.
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Republican New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov on Tuesday sent a formal invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak in New York City on January 1, 2026, while at the same time daring Mamdani to keep his pledge to have him arrested on war crimes charges.
"On January 1, Mamdani will take office," Vernikov wrote in a post on X. "And also on January 1, I look forward to welcoming Bibi to New York City. NY will always stand with Israel, and no radical Marxists with a title can change that."
The International Criminal Court (ICC) last year issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel's war in Gaza that has killed at least 69,000 Palestinians.
During his successful mayoral campaign, Mamdani repeatedly said that he would enforce the warrant against Netanyahu should the Israeli leader set foot in his city.
Although Mamdani backed off some of his most strident past statements during the campaign, particularly when it comes to the New York Police Department (NYPD), he doubled down on arresting Netanyahu during a September interview with The New York Times.
"This is a moment where we cannot look to the federal government for leadership," Mamdani told the paper. "This is a moment when cities and states will have to demonstrate what it actually looks like to stand up for our own values, our own people."
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Johnson told CNN on Monday night that Grijalva will be sworn in after Congress returns from a lengthy absence this week, when it is expected to vote to end the longest government shutdown in US history.
The blockade on Grijalva, who was elected to fill her late father's House seat on September 23, is also the longest that an elected member of Congress has been kept out of the chamber after winning a special election.
While Johnson has insisted he could not swear in members of Congress during a recess, he notably did so this April for two Florida Republicans—Reps. Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis—just one day after their elections.
Though he's denied the accusation, many have assumed that Johnson has dragged his feet on seating Grijalva because she is expected to be the final vote needed for the House to vote on a measure requiring the US Department of Justice to release its files on deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In late October, 20 victims of Epstein and his partner Ghislane Maxwell signed an open letter calling on Johnson to swear Grijalva into office.
"This delay appears to be a deliberate attempt to block her participation in the discharge petition that would force a vote to unseal the Epstein/Maxwell files," the survivors said. "The American public has a right to transparency and accountability, and we, as survivors, deserve justice."
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Johnson has managed to delay a vote on the Epstein files for months. In July, as a bipartisan resolution pushed by Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) was gaining steam, Johnson sent Congress home early for its August recess, which delayed business until September.
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