Amnesty International is demanding that the Zimbabwean government release Fairi Maguwu, a diamond industry activist who was arrested in early June after publicizing a report detailed human rights violations in the Marange diamond fields.

Maguwu heads the Centre for Research and Development (CRD), an organization which investigates alleged human rights violation in the diamond fields.

Maguwu's attorney claimed the activist was imprisoned as punishment for exposing violations to Kimberley Process Monitor for Zimbabwe Abbey Chikane.

Chikane's report on Zimbabwe's compliance with the Kimberley Process noted that he had met with Maguwu while state intelligence officers were present, and expressed concern that he had put Maguwu at risk.

Maguwu, who is being held on charges of "publishing or communication false information prejudicial to the state," turned himself in following the interrogation and beating of his family members by state officials.

On Friday, Zimbabwe's state prosecutor said his office needed more time to investigate Maguwu, who was subsequently denied bail.

The state is charging Maguwu under Section 31 of the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification), which violates the right to free expression and does not comply with existing laws that supposedly protect the right to gain, research, receive, and disseminate information pertaining to basic freedoms and human rights.

Amnesty International's Africa Director Erwin van der Borght said that Maguwu was being "persecuted" for fulfilling his monitoring duties, which include documenting allegations of human rights violations by diamond fields security forces, and that Amnesty sees Maguwu as a "prisoner of conscience."

Van der Borght stressed that Amnesty is seeking Maguwu's immediate and unconditional release.