This archive report was first published on 22 May 2020.
On May 19, 2020, Tanzanian comedian Idris Sultan found himself in hot water with the authorities.
According to his lawyer, Advocate Benedict Ishabakaki, Sultan was arrested for cyberbullying, specifically for sharing a video that mocked Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli.
The video in question showed Sultan laughing at a throwback photo of the president.
Speaking to SNS, Ishabakaki explained that the comedian's arrest was not an isolated incident, citing a previous arrest in 2019 for photoshopping President Magufuli's face and superimposing it on his own body.
However, the lawyer noted that the comedian's art form, which includes political comedy, is not unique to Tanzania and is practiced in other countries like the US, South Africa, and Kenya.
As of the publication date of May 22, 2020, Sultan remained in police custody, awaiting release.
