A founder of a whistleblowing website has been charged with three felonies after being arrested in Tanzania amid protests from human rights groups.

JamiiForums co-founder Maxence Melo appeared before Dar es Salaam's Kisutu Resident Magistrate on Friday. He denied charges of operating and operating a website not registered in Tanzania, obstructing police in an investigation and failure to comply with a police order.

Melo was arrested Wednesday. Authorities had attempted to force him to reveal identities of the contributors to his website.

Melo's lawyer, Benedict Ishabakaki, says "we will fight until justice is served."

Human rights groups have expressed dissatisfaction with the government of President John Magufuli on freedom of expression and other issues.