Activists Released In Zimbabwe, Say They Were Tortured In Jail

The two gay activists arrested in Zimbabwe earlier this week have been released on bail. The men were arrested for "undermining" the regime of dictator Robert Mugabe after an anti-Mugabe letter from former SF Mayor Willie Brown was found posted in their office. The men say they were tortured in jail.

Their employer, Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (Galz), said the two were assaulted by police while in custody. They were also made to bend their knees into a sitting position with their arms outstretched for long periods and struck with bottles when they weakened and fell, according to their defence attorney, David Hofisi. Nelson Chamisa, a government minister and spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change, condemned the alleged abuse: "Ill treatment or inhumane handling of any human being for any reason goes against our philosophy. We do not believe harassment is the best way of doing business. It flies in the face of the democratic order."

Next month they go on trial on charges of possessing pornography and insulting Mugabe.