(MFWA/IFEX) – On 5 May 2006 at about 11:00 p.m (local time), Pape Cheikh Fall, health correspondent for independent radio station RFM, was attacked by members of the religious sect Mouride Brotherhood while he was in a bar in Touba, about 250 km east of Dakar. He was attacked for allegedly criticising the sect’s leader, […]
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 5 May 2006 at about 11:00 p.m (local time), Pape Cheikh Fall, health correspondent for independent radio station RFM, was attacked by members of the religious sect Mouride Brotherhood while he was in a bar in Touba, about 250 km east of Dakar. He was attacked for allegedly criticising the sect’s leader, Seigne Bethio Thioune.
The seven assailants, armed with iron bars and cables, struck Fall in the head and left him unconscious, his clothes stained with blood.
According to an MFWA-Senegal source, Bethio Thioune had issued warnings to his critics in the 28 April edition of the daily “L’Observateur”, RFM’s sister newspaper. In that interview he warned: “people who insult me should take responsibility for their actions. I will not be responsible for what my disciples might do to them.”
Fall had subsequently written an article in the “L’Observateur” criticising Bethio Thioune for using his influence to rally support for President Abdoulaye Wade. The article quoted several members of the Mouride Brotherhood accusing the sect’s leader of working for Wade’s party to help him win the general elections in 2007.
The police have since mounted a search for the assailants, one of whom was identified as Pape Niang.
Bethio Thioune has denied any responsibility for the attack.
