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| Tundu Lissu: Defiant Tanzanian opposition leader appears in court in Dar es Salaam | Tundu Lissu: Defiant Tanzanian opposition leader appears in court in Dar es Salaam |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Tanzania's main opposition leader Tundu Lissu has appeared in court for the first time since his arrest on treason charges last month, telling his supporters not to fear. | Tanzania's main opposition leader Tundu Lissu has appeared in court for the first time since his arrest on treason charges last month, telling his supporters not to fear. |
| He raised his fist in a gesture of defiance and told his supporters: "You will be fine. You should not fear." | He raised his fist in a gesture of defiance and told his supporters: "You will be fine. You should not fear." |
| Tension was high in the country's biggest city, Dar es Salaam, in the morning, with security officers heavily deployed at the trial magistrate's court and elsewhere. | Tension was high in the country's biggest city, Dar es Salaam, in the morning, with security officers heavily deployed at the trial magistrate's court and elsewhere. |
| But that did not deter his supporters, hundreds of whom gathered outside the court. | |
| The court had previously attempted to conduct hearings virtually, but he and his legal team opposed this, citing the need for transparency and due process. | The court had previously attempted to conduct hearings virtually, but he and his legal team opposed this, citing the need for transparency and due process. |
| The Chadema party leader was arrested on 9 April following his rallying call for "no reforms, no election" - telling supporters that the general elections due in October should not go ahead unless there are electoral reforms. | The Chadema party leader was arrested on 9 April following his rallying call for "no reforms, no election" - telling supporters that the general elections due in October should not go ahead unless there are electoral reforms. |
| He has since been charged with treason and publishing false information online, which allegedly incited rebellion and accused police of electoral misconduct. | He has since been charged with treason and publishing false information online, which allegedly incited rebellion and accused police of electoral misconduct. |
| He denies the charges. | He denies the charges. |
| If convicted, he could face the death penalty. | If convicted, he could face the death penalty. |
| Could this be the end of the road for Lissu, Tanzania's great survivor? | Could this be the end of the road for Lissu, Tanzania's great survivor? |
| On Monday, the prosecution said that investigations into the treason charges were still ongoing, with Lissu's lawyers questioning the delay. | |
| The court has urged the prosecution to hasten the process and the case will be heard again on 2 June. | |
| Lissu's team also raised concerns over the heavy police presence around the court, which the judges acknowledged, saying there would be consultations on whether this was justified. | |
| The case, which Lissu has described as politically motivated, has heightened concerns over the state of democracy in the country. | |
| It has attracted global attention, especially after the deportation of prominent Kenyan personalities who had travelled to the country in solidarity with Lissu. | |
| On Sunday, former Justice Minister Martha Karua said she had been deported from Tanzania along with her two colleagues to prevent them from attending the trial. | |
| The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition said it was shocked by the "arbitrary arrests". | |
| Hours later, former Kenyan chief justice Willy Mutunga and other prominent rights activists said they had been stopped and held at the airport. | |
| Tanzanian authorities have not commented. | |
| Another former Kenyan chief justice, David Maraga, was in court and said that he hoped "the legal process ahead will be fair, just, and expeditious". | |
| Recent events in Tanzania, including the arrest of other opposition figures and a wave of abductions and killing targeting government critics, have sparked condemnation and calls for an end to political repression. | |
| The Chadema party has been disqualified from the October general elections after demanding electoral reforms and refusing to comply with the electoral commission's requirement to sign a code of conduct. | |
| You may also be interested in: | |
| Why Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger | Why Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger |
| 'Manhandled and choked' - Tanzanian activist recounts abduction | 'Manhandled and choked' - Tanzanian activist recounts abduction |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |