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Australian citizen and campaigner for ex-Muslim women Zara Key arrested in Tanzania - ABC News

An Australian woman who has renounced her Islamic faith and campaigns globally for women's rights has been arrested and charged in Tanzania, the country of her birth.

Supporters of Zara Kay say she was summoned to a police station in the city of Dar es Salaam on December 28 then held in custody for 32 hours.

In 2018, Ms Kay founded Faithless Hijabi, an organisation which supports women who have been ostracised or abused for leaving Islam.

The International Coalition of Ex-Muslims believes that while in police custody, Zara Kay was questioned about the work of the organisation and why she left Islam.

Ms Kay is understood to have been charged over a satirical social media post critical of the Tanzanian President's handling of COVID-19, as well as not returning her Tanzanian passport after gaining Australian citizenship.

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The Monash University-educated activist is also believed to have been charged with using a phone SIM card not registered in her name, a charge which has been used to prosecute other high-profile cases in the country.

In a statement, the Coalition of Ex-Muslims has called on the Tanzanian Government to immediately drop all charges against Zara Kay and allow her to leave the country

"The constitution of Tanzania enshrines secularism as a state principle and recognises freedom of expression and of conscience," it said.

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Authorities are believed to have confiscated her Australian passport before bailing her on December 29 and ordering her to return to the police station on New Year's Eve.

Concern is now growing for the activist's welfare, with supporters saying she was hospitalised with Generalised Anxiety Disorder which has been exacerbated by her time in custody.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesperson has confirmed consular assistance is being provided to the Australian passport holder.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to an Australian in Tanzania."

"Owing to our privacy obligations we will not provide further comment," the spokesperson added.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTAxLTAzL2F1c3RyYWxpYW4td29tYW4tYXJyZXN0ZWQtaW4tdGFuemFuaWEtb24tcG9saXRpY2FsbHktbW90aXZhdGVkLzEzMDI4NTUw0gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEzMDI4NTUw?oc=5

2021-01-03 03:40:00Z
CAIiEDjHrRiDwvWXdDYOE7xvQgYqFggEKg4IACoGCAow3vI9MPeaCDDciw4

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