(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a joint MISA-MFWA alert: The editors of four independent weekly newspapers, “L’Eveil Hebdo”, “L’Authentique”, “Le Journal” and “Al Moujtamaa”, have been sued for allegedly libelling Bodiel Ould Houmeid, a leading member of the ruling Socialist Democratic Republican Party (PRDS) and a close associate of President Maaouiya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya. According […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a joint MISA-MFWA alert:
The editors of four independent weekly newspapers, “L’Eveil Hebdo”, “L’Authentique”, “Le Journal” and “Al Moujtamaa”, have been sued for allegedly libelling Bodiel Ould Houmeid, a leading member of the ruling Socialist Democratic Republican Party (PRDS) and a close associate of President Maaouiya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya.
According to MFWA-Mauritania’s sources, the editors were first brought before the state prosecutor in the capital, Nouakchott, on 31 March 2004. After they had waited for over two hours, they were sent away and told to appear in court on 1 April.
The four newspapers had published articles alleging that Ould Houmeid was involved in the embezzlement of public funds between January 2002 and July 2003, when he was finance minister.
In Mauritania, defamation is punishable under Sections 25, 26 and 27 of Order No. 91-023 of the 25 July 1991 Law on Press Freedom. Section 27 of the law stipulates that “defamation committed against individuals (. . .) shall be punishable by a prison term of between five days and six months or a fine of between 80,000 and 400,000 Ouguiyas [approx. US$300 to $1,500], or both”.
MISA and the MFWA are concerned that the justice system and political establishment in Mauritania tend to criminalise free speech and freedom of expression, and that a conviction in this case could result in prison sentences for the four journalists.
