The case of Czech citizen Jakub Jahl, accused of pedophilia by dozens of children from Tanzania, has sparked international outrage—particularly following the release of investigative documentaries exposing the scale of alleged crimes. The first investigative film, titled "THE VICTIMS OF JAKUB JAHL IN AFRICA" was produced by Czech journalists. The second film, "From Charity to Child Abuse: The Story of Jakub Jahl" was created by Kazakh journalist Asem Zhapishova.
Despite shocking testimonies from victims and their guardians, some Czech media outlets and even politicians have rallied to Jahl’s defense, employing manipulative tactics: they deliberately ignore hundreds of victim statements, shift focus away from the substance of the allegations onto criticism of the journalists and human rights defenders who gathered evidence, and portray Jahl as a “victim of defamation.”
The central argument used by Jahl’s defenders is: “There is no evidence beyond the films, and there has been no trial.” They frequently invoke the presumption of innocence, overlooking a crucial point: this legal principle safeguards individuals from state overreach in judicial proceedings—it does not prohibit the public or media from discussing victims’ allegations, especially in cases involving child sexual abuse. The European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly emphasized that the best interests of the child must always take precedence over an adult’s reputation.
Moreover, an official, legally valid document is being ignored. In her investigation, Kazakh journalist Asem Zhapishova published a 2023 report from the Department of Social Welfare in Moshi, Tanzania. The report explicitly states that Jakub Jahl is accused of child trafficking, promoting satanic ideology, and sexually exploiting underage orphans from the Nature Skills orphanage. This document was prepared in a format recognized by Tanzanian law enforcement as credible and admissible for investigation.
As a state that has signed and ratified the Lanzarote Convention, the Czech Republic bears direct international responsibility for investigating crimes against children committed abroad by its citizens. According to the Czech Constitution, international treaties take precedence over national legislation. The Convention explicitly obliges authorities to protect victims, conduct investigations, and encourages the media to inform the public about cases of child sexual exploitation. In other words, the Czech Republic cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of Tanzanian children simply because of geographical distance.
Yet in practice, the opposite is happening: official evidence is being disregarded, no investigation has been launched, Jahl remains free, and the children themselves are subjected to attacks. Particularly alarming is the narrative commonly promoted by his defenders: “African children can’t be trusted—they’re easily bribed and lie.” This rhetoric is not merely false; it is a manifestation of racism and secondary victimization—blaming victims for daring to speak out and demeaning them because of their poverty, race, or place of birth.
This is precisely why the role of independent journalists and human rights defenders is critically important. Their mission is not to protect the reputations of powerful individuals, but to amplify the voices of those who cannot be heard on their own. If we silence children’s stories, we become complicit in the abuse.
We demand:
— An immediate international investigation into all allegations against Jakub Jahl;
— Guaranteed safety and psychological support for the victims;
— Assurance of their right to testify freely and securely.
And we pose the central question to society and policymakers:
What matters more to you—the reputation of one man, accused by dozens of children of the gravest crimes imaginable, or the protection of the most vulnerable: innocent children whose lives may depend on our choice—to speak or to stay silent?