Amnesty International has intensified calls for the immediate release of Angolan TikToker Ana da Silva Miguel, also known as Neth Nahara, who has been detained for over a year. The organization termed her conviction under Article 333 of Angola’s penal code for committing an outrage against the state as baseless and criticized the judicial process that led to an extension of her sentence. Initially, Ana da Silva Miguel was sentenced to six months in prison and fined one million Kwanza ($1,200) shortly after she criticized President João Lourenço in a TikTok video. However, her sentence was later extended to two years on appeal, which her lawyers were not permitted to contest.
- Neth Nahara was arrested on August 13, 2023, in Luanda following her live TikTok video criticizing the president.
- Her conviction includes charges of committing an outrage against the state and its symbols.
- Angolan authorities extended her sentence from six months to two years in a process Amnesty International described as flawed.
Amnesty International has cited constitutional guarantees of free expression in Angola and accused authorities of misusing the penal code to stifle dissent. Additionally, concerns have been raised about Neth Nahara’s health, as she was reportedly denied her daily HIV medication for eight months during her imprisonment.
This situation is part of a broader pattern of human rights violations in Angola. A recent report from Human Rights Watch in August 2023 highlighted severe abuses, including the unlawful killing of more than 12 individuals and other violations. The crackdown extends to other activists, with several being detained for exercising their right to protest and express dissent.
The international community, including organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, continues to call for reforms and accountability in Angola. These efforts include calling for the release of Ana da Silva Miguel and other detained activists who are facing arbitrary imprisonment.
For more details, you can read the full article on JURIST.