Tanzanian comedian Idris Sultan has appeared at a magistrate's court this morning in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, eight days after he was arrested.
Sultan was expected to be charged with cybercrimes offences, tampering with evidence and using a Sim card registered in someone else’s name, a police spokesperson told the BBC on Monday.
But once in court, the charge sheet only mentioned the Sim card issue.
He was arrested on Tuesday last week, after a video of the comedian laughing at an old photograph of President John Magufuli wearing an oversized suit went viral on social media.
Police accused him of violating the Cybercrimes Act and bullying the president, according to his lawyer Bennedict Ishabakaki.
Many social media users have re-shared the video with the hashtag #FreeIdrisSultan and set his photo as their profile picture in a show of solidarity.
“We must promote & support artistic freedom and creation (innovation) as a part of participatory democracy,” tweeted digital rights advocate Maxence Melo.
Last year, Sultan was held after sharing a face-swapped image of himself and the president.
His detention has served as the latest reminder of digital regulation laws that rights activists have described as harsh and infringing on freedom of expression.
Latest Stories
-
Smallholder farmers to make use of Ghana Commodity Exchange
4 hours -
I want to focus more on my education – Chidimma Adetshina quits pageantry
4 hours -
Priest replaced after Sabrina Carpenter shoots music video in his church
4 hours -
Duct-taped banana artwork sells for $6.2m in NYC
4 hours -
Arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander over alleged war crimes
4 hours -
Actors Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are engaged
4 hours -
Expired rice saga: A ‘best before date’ can be extended – Food and Agriculture Engineer
5 hours -
Why I rejected Range Rover gift from a man – Tiwa Savage
5 hours -
KNUST Engineering College honours Telecel Ghana CEO at Alumni Excellence Awards
5 hours -
Postecoglou backs Bentancur appeal after ‘mistake’
5 hours -
#Manifesto debate: NDC to enact and pass National Climate Law – Prof Klutse
5 hours -
‘Everything a manager could wish for’ – Guardiola signs new deal
6 hours -
TEWU suspends strike after NLC directive, urges swift resolution of grievances
6 hours -
Netflix debuts Grain Media’s explosive film
6 hours -
‘Expired’ rice scandal: FDA is complicit; top officials must be fired – Ablakwa
7 hours