Co-founder of Tanzania whistleblowing website charged
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
A founder of a whistleblowing website has been charged with three felonies after being arrested in Tanzania amid protests from human rights groups.
JamiiForums co-founder Maxence Melo appeared before Dar es Salaam's Kisutu Resident Magistrate on Friday. He denied charges of operating and operating a website not registered in Tanzania, obstructing police in an investigation and failure to comply with a police order.
Melo was arrested Wednesday. Authorities had attempted to force him to reveal identities of the contributors to his website.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Melo's lawyer, Benedict Ishabakaki, says "we will fight until justice is served."
Human rights groups have expressed dissatisfaction with the government of President John Magufuli on freedom of expression and other issues.