Since President John Magufuli took office in November 2015, the government of Tanzania has applied a raft of repressive laws restricting the rights of opposition politicians, human rights defenders, activists, researchers, journalists, bloggers and other online users. Cumulatively, the application of these laws has had a chilling effect on the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Concerns over the misuse of the criminal justice system to arrest and prosecute critics of government are rife. This report calls on the Government of Tanzania to stop the repression of peaceful dissents and perceived government critics.
