Tanzania
Tanzanian opposition leader Freeman Mbowe went on trial on “terrorism” charges today in a case his supporters and rights groups say is politically motivated. Mbowe was arrested in July just before he was due to host a public forum to discuss constitutional reform. Journalists were banned from the courtroom by police.
More from Africa News here.
Bangladesh
Six men were sentenced to death in Bangladesh today for the horrific murders of two LGBTQ rights activists in the capital Dhaka five years ago. Xulhaz Mannan, editor of the country’s first gay rights magazine, and Mahbub Rabby Tonoy were hacked to death in their apartment in an attack carried out by the Ansar al-Islam group. Ansar al-Islam is a banned group believed to be al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Bangladesh.
More from Al Jazeera here.
Ivory Coast
The Ivory Coast is in uproar after a convicted rapist went on a television show and demonstrated on a mannequin how he used to rape women while the host laughed along with him. The guest went on to advise women on how to avoid being raped. Thirty thousand people have signed a petition demanding that the show be cancelled and politicians, including Women’s Affairs Minister Nassénéba Touré, have expressed their outrage. Touré said the show undermined government efforts to eradicate rape.
More from Reuters here.