Samia Suluhu Hassan<\/a><\/span><\/span>, has been sentenced to two years in prison or a fine of $2,000 (\u00a31,600) after being found guilty of cybercrimes.<\/p>\nShadrack Chaula was arrested for allegedly recording a viral video, showing him burning a picture of President Hassan while verbally insulting her.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old painter admitted committing the crime and failed to defend his action in court.<\/p>\n
His arrest sparked legal controversy, with some lawyers saying that no law was broken in burning the picture.<\/p>\n
Some social media users have started an online drive to raise money to pay Chaula’s fine so he can be freed from jail.<\/p>\n
In 2018, Tanzania enacted tough laws against the spread of “fake news”, which critics see as a way of curbing freedom of expression.<\/p>\n
Police said Chaula used “strong words” against the president in the video he posted on his TikTok account on 30 June in Ntokela village, in the south-western city of Mbeya.<\/p>\n
Local police chief Benjamin Kuzaga on Tuesday told journalists that the artist’s offences included burning the president’s portrait and disseminating offensive content online.<\/p>\n
“It is not the culture of Mbeya people to insult our national leaders,” Mr Kuzaga said.<\/p>\n
Some lawyers said there was no law that criminalises burning a picture of the president.<\/p>\n
\u201cWas the picture taken by a government photographer? Let them come out publicly and explain their impact on society and the nation. Who can show the law that burning a picture is an offence?\u201d lawyer Philip Mwakilima told the Mwananchi newspaper.<\/p>\n
But the act, which is deemed unethical in Tanzania, sparked public outrage.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, magistrate Shamla Shehagilo found Chaula guilty of distributing videos on TikTok that contained false information in violation of the country’s cyber laws.<\/p>\n
The court ruled that his actions constituted cyber-harassment and incitement.<\/p>\n
Chaula remained silent when given the chance to defend himself against the charges, local media reported.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor had urged the court to impose a harsh penalty on him in order to deter others from “disrespecting” the president.<\/p>\n
The case has sparked a debate in the country with critics saying the sentence is too harsh and a reflection of the government’s crackdown on dissent.<\/p>\n
President Hassan, who came to power in 2021, has introduced reforms that have opened up the political and civic spaces.<\/p>\n
But the opposition and rights groups have expressed concerns that the country is sliding back to retrogressive policies.<\/p>\n