Tanzania opposition leader rejects court hearing as treason charges loom

Tanzania’s opposition leader Tundu Lissu has refused to attend a virtual court hearing where he faces treason charges. His arrest earlier this month followed public calls for electoral reforms ahead of the country’s general election in October. The move is seen as part of an escalating crackdown on opposition figures and political dissent by the authorities. Rights groups have expressed concern over shrinking democratic space in Tanzania as the vote nears. Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi reports. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #TanzaniaPolitics #TunduLissu #TanzaniaOpposition #TanzaniaElections #ElectoralReforms #TanzaniaNews #OppositionCrackdown #TanzaniaCourt #TreasonCharges #EastAfricaPolitics #TanzaniaDemocracy #FreedomOfSpeech #AlJazeeraEnglish