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Tanzania Charges 240 With Treason—A Crime Punishable by Death

Tanzania’s legal system is under international scrutiny after authorities brought treason charges against at least 240 individuals in connection with violent disturbances that erupted during last week’s electoral process.

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The mass arraignment unfolded Friday at a packed courtroom in Dar es Salaam, where hundreds of defendants faced a judge in proceedings that have drawn sharp criticism from human rights observers across the region and beyond.

Initial reports suggested that 138 suspects had been formally charged earlier in the week. However, updated court documentation and testimony from judicial officials now confirm the number has climbed to at least 240 people facing accusations of treason—a capital offense in Tanzania that carries the death penalty by hanging under the country’s penal code.

The charges stem from clashes that marked last week’s elections, though details about the specific incidents and the alleged actions of individual defendants remain limited. The scale of the prosecutions has prompted questions about due process and proportionality in the government’s response to electoral unrest.

Legal experts note that treason prosecutions of this magnitude are extraordinary, even in contexts of political turbulence. The severity of the potential sentence has amplified concerns among civil liberties advocates who warn that such sweeping charges could have a chilling effect on political participation and freedom of assembly.

International human rights organizations are closely monitoring the proceedings, with several calling for transparency in the judicial process and fair treatment of all defendants. Critics argue that the mass treason charges may represent an excessive response that could undermine democratic principles in a nation already facing scrutiny over its human rights record.

The Tanzanian government has not yet issued a comprehensive statement addressing the international reaction, though officials have previously defended their actions as necessary to maintain law and order during a sensitive electoral period.

As the cases move through Tanzania’s court system, the outcome will likely have significant implications for civil liberties and political discourse in the East African country, where tensions between state authority and democratic freedoms continue to shape the national conversation.

The defendants now face a lengthy legal process, with their futures hanging in the balance under one of the most serious charges in Tanzanian law.