Issue No. 352   Date: July 22  - July 28, 2004

M A I N    H E A D L I N E S

 Arrest of Saudi diplomat
ACTIVISTS SCEPTICAL
Rights groups refuse to take Kikwete statement on rape case at face value
By Rupa Parekh & Kizito Makoye

Refusing to put their arms down, legal Rights groups in the country have decided to investigate government claims that Ismail Turde, the Saudi diplomat who allegedly raped his Tanzanian house girl in Dar es Salaam, has been arrested by Saudi Arabian authorities and is now said to be facing prosecution.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Jakaya Kikwete, in a statement to the Parliament Tuesday, assured the people that the alleged rapist will face criminal prosecution in Saudi Arabia, where rape is punishable by death if the accused is convicted. He also said the Saudi Embassy in Tanzania would compensate the victim.
Like many other governments in the past, the Tanzanian government too, had been forced to concede to the diplomatic immunity law, leaving the Saudi Arabian authorities to press charges against Turde in his home country. On July 6, this year, Turde allegedly raped his Tanzanian house girl at his residence in the Masaki area of Dar es Salaam. As the Saudi government waved the diplomatic immunity card, the Tanzanian government was forced to allow Turde to leave the country.
Since then the government has been under intense pressure to get the Saudi Arabian authorities to act on the matter.  Full story >>> 

WEDDING BLISS! Media Express Managing Director Fayaz Bhojani, who tied knot last Saturday in Arusha, seen with his bride Shemina at their wedding reception. (Photo by Express Photographer).

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