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Spotlight: Lesotho Free Expression & the Law

Lesotho Constitutional Court applauded for declaring criminal defamation unconstitutional

Lesotho Constitutional Court applauded for declaring criminal defamation unconstitutional

31 May 2018
Reyhana Masters for IFEX

Advocates campaigning against criminal defamation, insult, false news and sedition laws across the African continent are celebrating the Lesotho Constitutional Court’s decision declaring criminal defamation unconstitutional.

Lesotho Highlights
From our Network

Lesotho Censorship

Lesotho government takes two radio stations off air

Ts’enolo FM (104.6MHZ) and People’s Choice FM (95.6 MHZ) were cut off in Lesotho for allegedly airing defamatory content about Prime Minister Bethuel Mosisili and Deputy Prime Minister Mothejoa Metsing.

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa ‎10 February 2017

Lesotho Attacks Censorship

Gunshot and charges follow satirical column about commander

Editor shot just a week after Lesotho Times publisher Basildon Peta charged with defamation over column about Lesotho Defense Force commander.

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa ‎13 July 2016

Lesotho

High Court judge sues Harvest FM radio station

According to a letter from her lawyer, Justice 'Maseforo Mahase has claimed that a programme aired by the station contained defamatory remarks against her.

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa ‎14 September 2011

Latest from Lesotho

Privately-owned radio stations off the air amid demonstrations

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 22 August 2011
High-ranking police officer sues Harvest FM and radio presenter

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 29 March 2011
Political opposition leader threatens to shoot journalist

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho Attacks 21 October 2010
Cabinet delays implementation of media policy

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 24 September 2010
Journalist injured during clashes between students and police

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 28 October 2009
Ruling party proposes law that would hinder freedom of expression and association

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 5 October 2009
Journalist receives death threat, motive unclear

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 30 September 2009
Journalist sentenced to two years in jail with option of a fine for sedition

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 24 October 2008
Harvest FM radio station back on air

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 23 October 2008
Defunct weekly issued hefty fine in defamation case

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 14 October 2008
Journalist covering protest manhandled by political party militants, his camera confiscated

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 30 July 2008
Privately-owned radio station suspended for "failure to cooperate with the authority"

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 25 July 2008
"Broadcast media under siege," says MISA as government hikes licencing fees, harasses radio station and plans restrictive legislative amendment

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 14 May 2008
Freedom of the Press 2007: Lesotho

‎ Freedom House

Lesotho 27 February 2008
Radio broadcaster facing charges read offending letter under threat of imminent death

‎

Lesotho 8 February 2008
Journalist charged with additional criminal offences, faces possible death penalty for "high treason"

‎ International Press Institute

Lesotho 23 January 2008
Weekly's survival threatened by state advertising boycott ordered by government

‎ Reporters Without Borders

Lesotho 10 July 2007
"Public Eye" reporter harassed at rally

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 29 June 2007
RADIO HOST CHARGED FOR READING SUBVERSIVE LETTER ON AIR

‎

Lesotho 26 June 2007
Radio host freed on bail, charged with "failing to report subversive activity"

‎ Reporters Without Borders

Lesotho 26 June 2007
Journalist arrested on treason charges declares hunger strike pending trial

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 25 June 2007
Previously-harassed journalist receives death threats; others threatened, harassed, accused of "causing confusion"

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 14 February 2007
Radio presenter threatened after interviewing political journalist banned from public broadcast media

‎ Reporters Without Borders

Lesotho 22 November 2006
Broadcast journalist inundated with threats over his reporting on political developments

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 14 November 2006
Editor faces defamation suit

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 29 August 2006
Reporter summoned before High Court

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Lesotho 25 August 2006

At a glance

Lesotho

Most covered free expression issues in this country
- Attacks

More from Lesotho

Freedom of the Press 2016: Lesotho

Freedom House 24 April 2016
Freedom of the Press 2015: Lesotho

Ranked 93rd in annual global media freedom report

Freedom House 2 May 2015
State of Media Freedom in Southern Africa 2013: Lesotho (pdf)

Radio programmes characterized by vibrant listener participation, people express their views without fear

Media Institute of Southern Africa 3 May 2014

Take Action!

Ahmed Mansoor remains on hunger strike in poor conditions as eyesight deteriorates

Take action to help save the life of imprisoned human rights defender and blogger Ahmed Mansoor

Latest Tweet:

Journalist Rana Ayyub's social media profiles have been flooded with rape and death threats after she wrote posts a… https://t.co/oaK3tCOlYw – 4:07 PM, 14 July 2020