(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter addressed to the state prosecutor, Djama Souleiman Ali, RSF has vehemently protested the conviction of two journalists in Djibouti for “dissemination of false news stories.” RSF insisted that journalists Daher Ahmed Farah and Ali Meidal Wais be released immediately. Robert Ménard, RSF’s secretary-general, added that “international human rights bodies consider […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter addressed to the state prosecutor, Djama Souleiman
Ali, RSF has vehemently protested the conviction of two journalists in
Djibouti for “dissemination of false news stories.” RSF insisted that
journalists Daher Ahmed Farah and Ali Meidal Wais be released immediately.
Robert Ménard, RSF’s secretary-general, added that “international human
rights bodies consider the passing of prison sentences for violations of
press laws as ‘disproportionate’ to the prejudice suffered by the victim.
This explains why today no democratic state imposes prison sentences in
cases involving the press.”
**Updates IFEX alert of 31 August 1999**
According to information gathered by RSF, on 2 September 1999, Daher Ahmed
Farah, the editor-in-chief of “Le Renouveau” and RSF correspondent for the
country, was sentenced to one year in prison without parole and fined one
million djiboutian francs (30,000 euros) for “dissemination of false news
stories” and “damaging the armed forces’ morale.” Ali Meidal Wais, former
chief of staff for the army and the senior editor of the opposition monthly
“Le Temps”, was similarly convicted, sentenced to eight months in prison and
fined the same amount. Furthermore, both “Le Renouveau” and “Le Temps”
newspapers have been banned for a period of six months. As a result, no
independent newspaper is currently available in Djibouti.
There is evidence to suggest that the conditions under which the trial was
conducted were less than fair and equitable. For instance, no defense lawyer
was present at the hearing and the neighbourhood around the courthouse was
cordoned off by a significant number of police, who prevented journalists
and human rights defenders from attending the hearing. Finally, according to
RSF’s information, several departures from correct judicial form marked the
hearing: the accused were not presented to the court within the time frame
specified by the Djibouti legal procedure code, and the hearing was unable
to bring forth material evidence of the journalists’ guilt.
Daher Ahmed Farah and Ali Meidal Wais were arrested on 29 August for the
publication of reports on the fighting between the Djibouti army and the
rebel forces, and in particular, the destruction of an army helicopter that
the journalists attributed to the guerilla forces.
