Mauritania: Editor held illegally given second prison sentence
Published: February 10, 2010
English PEN strongly protests the two-year prison sentence handed to online newspaper editor Hanevy Ould Dehah on 4 February 2010 for allegedly violating public decency, inciting revolt and "criminal publication." Dehah has already served a six-month sentence on the same charges which expired in December 2009 but he has continued to be held in custody. English PEN believes that Dehah's conviction and continuing imprisonment are in direct violation of his right to freedom of expression and opinion and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
On 4 February 2010, Hanevy Ould Dehah, editor of the news website Taqadoumy (Arabic for 'Progressive') was sentenced to a further two years in prison despite having already served six months in prison on the same charges. He should have been freed in December 2009. However, instead of releasing him, the authorities called for a retrial, citing alleged procedural flaws in the first trial. Press freedom groups have described Dehah's retrial as arbitrary and politically motivated and journalists in Mauritania have reportedly been campaigning for his release. His lawyers plan to appeal before the Supreme Court.
Background
Dehah was arrested on 18 June 2009 following a complaint by the head of the opposition Alliance for Justice and Democracy/ Movement for Renovation (AJD/MR), who was then a presidential candidate. The politician was angered by a 22 April article which referred to his alleged purchase of a villa costing 30 million ouguiyas (approx. about 83,000 Euros) in one of the capital's chicest neighbourhoods. The politician and his family reportedly said the article was "defamatory and baseless".
Dehah was charged on 24 June and on 19 August was given a six-month prison sentence for "offending public decency". He was acquitted of charges of defamation, inciting rebellion and inciting crimes and offences "because of the absence of enforceable laws applicable to electronic media offences." Taking into account the two months he had spent in prison before being sentenced, Dehah was expected to be released on 24 December.
However, Dehah remained in custody and on 14 January 2010 the Supreme Court ruled that his case should be sent back to an investigating judge for a new trial. The authorities reportedly refused to comment on the situation; the justice minister said that he was unaware of the case even though the case has been widely reported in the media. A hunger strike by Dehah that lasted several weeks was unsuccessful in bringing about his release. On 4 February 2010, Dehah was retried and sentenced to a further two years in prison on what are essentially the same charges. He remains imprisoned in Dart Naim prison in the capital Nouakchott.
Useful links
• Report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (8 February 2010)
• Report by Reporters Without Borders (5 February 2010)
• Opinion piece published on Taqadoumy (3 February 2010)
Please send appeals:
• Protesting the two-year prison sentence handed to online editor Hanevy Ould Dehah on 4 February 2010 for allegedly violating public decency, inciting revolt and "criminal publication";
• Pointing out that Dehah has already served a six-month sentence on the same charges and should have been released in December 2009;
• Emphasising that Dehah's conviction and continued detention is in violation of his right to freedom of expression protected under international human rights treaties to which Ethiopia is a party, including the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and People's Rights;
• Calling for Dehah's immediate and unconditional release.
Appeals to:
President of the Republic
Président de la République
Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz
Présidence de la République Islamique de Mauritanie
B.P. 184
Nouakchott, Mauritania
Fax : 222 525 98 01
(When someone answers, say "je voudrais envoyer un fax, s'il vous plaît - I'd like to send a fax, please")
Messages may also be sent via the Mauritanian government website
Salutation: Monsieur le Président / Dear Mr President
Minister of Justice
Limama Ould Teguedi
Ministre de la Justice
B.P. 350 Nouakchott, Mauritania
Fax: 222 529 49 84
Messages may also be sent via the Ministry's website.
Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre / Dear Minister
NB - It may be difficult to send faxes to Mauritania. We therefore recommend that you send a copy of your letter to the Mauritanian diplomatic representative in the UK, asking them to forward your appeal:
H.E. Dr. Digana Yousouf
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
8 Carlos Place
Mayfair
W1K 3AS
London
Fax: 020 7478 9339