Burundi: Jailed Schoolgirls Accused of Defacement Freed

Three schoolgirls who were detained for allegedly defacing images of the president of Burundi have been released, following a huge outcry and widespread ridicule over their arrest.

The pupils – aged 15, 16 and 17, respectively – were arrested two weeks ago in the country’s Kirundo province, after they were accused of scribbling over pictures of President Pierre Nkurunziza in their textbooks.

Four others were also arrested, but were later released. The three remaining pupils were to be put on trial by a regional court in Kirundo for their alleged actions.

In response to the jailed schoolgirls’ arrest, social media users took to uploading doctored images of President Nkurunziza online under the hashtag #FreeOurGirls.

Lewis Mudge, director of Human Rights Watch Central Africa, commented: “With so many real crimes being committed in Burundi, it’s tragic that children are the ones being prosecuted for harmless scribbles.”

Aimee Laurentine Kanyana, the country’s justice minister, told a local media outlet that the pupils have been provisionally released. However, she explained that future cases would result in prosecution.