Luanda, Angola – A year has passed since Angolan TikToker Ana da Silva Miguel, known as Neth Nahara, was detained for criticizing President João Lourenço in a social media video. Rights organizations, including Amnesty International, are calling for her immediate release, citing the violation of her freedom of expression.

Neth Nahara was arrested on August 13, 2023, following a live TikTok video where she voiced criticism of President Lourenço's administration. The following day, an Angolan court convicted her of "offense against the State, its symbols, and its organs," under Article 333 of the Angolan Penal Code. She was initially sentenced to six months in prison and fined one million kwanzas (approximately $1,200 USD).

However, the case took a controversial turn when an appeals court, acting on the prosecution's request, increased her sentence to two years. Neth Nahara's legal team was denied the opportunity to file an appeal, prompting them to file a formal complaint regarding the irregular process, which has gone unanswered.

"The Angolan authorities must immediately release Ana da Silva Miguel, alias Neth Nahara, as we mark the first anniversary of her detention. Neth Nahara should never have been jailed in the first place," said Vongai Chikwanda, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. "Angolan authorities are abusing the penal code to try to silence peaceful dissent."

Concerns have also been raised about Neth Nahara's health during her imprisonment. For eight months, she was reportedly denied her daily HIV medication, placing her at serious risk.

Amnesty International highlights that Neth Nahara's case is not isolated. The organization points to the continued detention of four activists – Adolfo Campos, Hermenegildo Victor José (Gildo das Ruas), Abraão Pedro Santos (Pensador), and Gilson Moreira (Tanaice Neutro) – who were arrested on September 16, 2023, while attempting to join a protest in Luanda. Like Neth Nahara, their detention is seen as a violation of their rights to peaceful protest and expression.

"The conviction of Neth Nahara for committing an 'offense against the State' is absurd, while her sentence was extended from six months to two years following an irregular appeal process," Chikwanda stated. "The Angolan Constitution explicitly protects freedom of expression, including expressing political opinions on social media."

Human rights advocates argue that the repeated use of Article 333 of the Penal Code to justify the detention of government critics demonstrates a troubling pattern of suppressing dissent in Angola. They urge the Angolan government to uphold its constitutional obligations and international human rights commitments by releasing Neth Nahara and the other detained activists immediately.