The Prosecutor of the Togo Republic decided to release 56 people who were arrested against the background of the protests organized by some political forces last Thursday in the capital, Lumi, in conjunction with the birthday of the new president of the country for Gannasingby.
The announcement of the release of some detainees came through a statement by the Public Prosecutor broadcast on National TV on Monday evening, explaining that about 20 people are still detained in pretrial detention while waiting for their appearance before the judiciary.
The capital, Lumi, had witnessed widespread demonstrations on Thursday and Friday, to denounce the recent constitutional amendments that allowed President Four Ghannasabi to continue at the head of power.
The demonstrators raised slogans denouncing what they described as the selective arrest campaign implemented by the security authorities among opponents and civil society activists.
For its part, the government considered that these demonstrations are not licensed and contrary to the law, describing it as “rebellion against the institutions of the Republic.”
In addition to the protesters, the authorities in Lome have arrested some journalists for a short period, and forced them to delete videos and photos in which they documented the demonstrations, the protesters’ demands and their statements.
According to the Public Prosecution statement, the detainees who have not been released, will consider the judiciary, and judge them in line with the laws in force.
Condemnation
In the context, the group of opposition political parties issued a statement in which it denounced the arrests among the demonstrators last Thursday, and said it was a kind of arbitrariness that the government has used to use, as it put it.
The National Union of Public Doctors and private also condemned the arrest of one of its members who participated in the anti -government demonstrations.
The volunteer lawyers to defend the detainees said that the lengthy arrest violates the legal procedures and guarantees, calling on the authorities to release the detainees immediately, or refer them to the judiciary.
Calls continued on social media to release the detainees, and to cancel the security follow -ups that affect the freedom of opinion and the expression guaranteed in national and international laws.