The pro-democracy movements sweeping north Africa and the Middle East have inspired democrats the world over (Around the globe, 21 February). Not so in Zimbabwe where 52 people were arrested on Saturday, 19 February, for attending a peaceful, legal meeting to watch a video about recent events. Those arrested include human rights, trade union and student activists together with the former Movement for Democratic Change MP, Munyaradzi Gwisai, director of the Zimbabwe Labour Centre in Harare.
One of the detainees was pushed out of a second floor window resulting in a broken leg, some are HIV positive and in need of their life-saving medicine. All have been denied access to medical treatment, lawyers and proper meals. They face very serious charges of plotting "to subvert the constitutionally elected government" led by Robert Mugabe. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested and we call upon the Zimbabwean ambassador in London to put pressure on Patrick Chinamasa, Zimbabwe's minister of justice, to arrange for their release.
Prof Alex Callinicos Kings College, London
Jane Loftus Vice-president, Communication Workers Union
Prof Jane Duncan Rhodes University, South Africa
Prof Roger Southall University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Prof Elleke Boehmer University of Oxford
Prof Robert Gildea University of Oxford
Dr Anne Alexander University of Cambridge
Dr Norrie MacQueen University of Dundee
Richard Kuper London
Salim Vally Senior researcher, University of Johannesburg
Dr Carlo Morelli University of Dundee
Dr Paul Blackledge Leeds Metropolitan University
Colin Barker Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr David Renton Barrister, London
Ruth Hall Senior researcher, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Dr Horman Chitonge University of Cape Town, South Africa
Dr Benjamin Selwyn University of Sussex
Dr Owen Miller University of Cambridge
Liam Campling Lecturer, Queen Mary, University of London
Dr Jonathan Pattenden University of East Anglia
Dr Satoshi Miyamura School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
Prof John Coleman University of Oxford
Dr John Parrington University of Oxford
Ms Daisy Cooper Director, Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit
Prof David Seddon Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit
Dr Leo Zeilig Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit
Dr Peter Dwyer Ruskin College, University of Oxford
Dr Firoze Manji Pambazuka News
Dr Sean Jacobs The New School, New York City.
Prof Peter Alexander University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Dr Daniel Moshenberg George Washington University, Washington, DC
Dr Peter Waterman Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Netherlands
Dr Gavin Capps University of Cape Town, South Africa
Dr Samantha Ashman University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Dr Claudia Ortu University of Johannesburg
Dr Miles Larmer University of Sheffield
Dr John Walker Ruskin College, Oxford,
Dr Hilda Kean London Ruth Hall, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Lauren Basson University of Johannesburg
Claire Ceruti Researcher, University of Johannesburg
