MWE Correspondent
In a deeply personal plea before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court, Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu has claimed he is being denied his constitutional right to worship while in remand custody—a violation, he says, of both national and international human rights standards.
Lissu, a prominent lawyer and the national chairperson of CHADEMA, made the declaration during a court appearance in Dar es Salaam, as his ongoing legal proceedings continue to draw national and global attention.
He told the court that since his incarceration began, including over significant Christian holidays such as Good Friday and Easter Sunday, he has been persistently denied the opportunity to attend religious services. Even routine Sunday worship, he said, has been blocked—unlike other inmates, who are reportedly permitted to practice their faiths.
“This is not just about me—it’s about the integrity of our justice system,” Lissu stated firmly. “The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, particularly Article 18, guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. These are not optional; they are rights.”
His legal team and supporters are preparing to raise the matter formally in the coming sessions, calling for judicial intervention to uphold his rights.
Lissu’s case underscores a broader discussion about detainee rights and the treatment of political prisoners in Tanzania. Denying religious freedom behind bars, human rights defenders argue, contradicts the principles enshrined in global instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly Article 18, which affirms that everyone has the right to freedom of religion—even when in detention.
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This is not the first time Lissu has made headlines for challenging state authority. In 2017, he survived an assassination attempt that forced him into exile, only to return later with renewed resolve to pursue political reform.
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His re-arrest has been interpreted by many observers as a litmus test for freedom of expression in Tanzania, particularly as the country attempts to navigate its democratic space under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
So far, neither the Tanzania Prisons Service nor the Ministry of Home Affairs has commented on the matter.
Legal experts warn that failing to address such claims could damage Tanzania’s international reputation, especially as the nation seeks to restore investor confidence and democratic credibility following years of political turbulence.
“This isn’t just a legal question—it’s a moral one,” said one constitutional scholar from the University of Dar es Salaam. “If the state can deny you worship while in its custody, what else can it deny?”
As Lissu awaits the next steps in his trial, the courtroom drama extends beyond legal arguments—it now encompasses constitutional principles, human dignity, and the soul of Tanzanian democracy.
