Amnesty describes Twitter suspension as unlawful, demands immediate reversal

Human rights group, Amnesty International, has demanded an immediate reversal of the suspension of the operations of Twitter.

On Friday, Minister of Information, announced that the Federal Government had suspended the micro blogging site over the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.

The action of the government had generated different reactions.

In a statement, Amnesty International said the suspension is not compatible with Nigeria’s international obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“Amnesty International condemns the Nigerian government’s suspension of Twitter in Nigeria — a social media widely used by Nigerians to exercise their human rights, including their rights to freedom of expression and access to information.”

“We call on the #Nigerian authorities to immediately reverse the unlawful suspension and other plans to gag the media, repress the civic space, and undermine Nigerians’ human rights. This action is clearly inconsistent and incompatible with Nigeria’s international obligations including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,”

The Federal Government took the action days after Twitter yanked off a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari that it said violated its rules.

The platform had flagged one of Buhari’s tweets on the 1967 civil war.  (Daily Trust)