Burundi Jails Students For Drawing

Three students in Burundi have been jailed after they allegedly scribbled on a picture of the country’s President, Pierre Nkurunziza, displayed in their textbooks. 

The girls, aged 15,16 and 17, are awaiting trial but could face up a sentence of up to five years if found guilty of contempt of the head of state. A boy of 13 was also arrested but then released as he is below the age of criminal responsibility.  

Human Rights Watch (HRW) representative Lewis Mudge has stated that it is not clear when the trial may take place but that the girls are “too scared to eat”. There is a precedent of schoolchildren serving sentences for similar charges.

Speaking on the case Mudge stated, "Authorities should focus on holding perpetrators of serious rights violations to account instead of jailing schoolchildren for doodles."