(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 17 December 2007 RSF press release: Editor charged, temporarily released; weekly ordered closed, say police On 17 December 2007, Nadjikimo Benoudjita, editor of the private weekly “Notre Temps”, was charged with “inciting tribal and religious hatred” then released until his next summons to appear in […]
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 17 December 2007 RSF press release:
Editor charged, temporarily released; weekly ordered closed, say police
On 17 December 2007, Nadjikimo Benoudjita, editor of the private weekly “Notre Temps”, was charged with “inciting tribal and religious hatred” then released until his next summons to appear in court.
Benoudjita was arrested on 14 December 2007 at his home following a complaint filed against him by the High Council of Communication (HCC). He was initially charged with “defamation” and “insulting the head of State”, before finally being charged with “inciting tribal and religious hatred”.
On the morning of 15 December, judicial police searched the journalist’s home, which also serves as the editorial office of “Notre Temps”. The police officers also informed Nguémadki Dkimasngar, the weekly’s editor-in-chief, of the information and public security minister’s decision to order the “pure and simple closure of the newspaper”.