(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has urged the authorities in Niger to release Salifou Soumaila Abdoulkarim, publication director of the privately-owned weekly “Le Visionnaire”, as soon as possible. Detained since 12 November 2005 at the Niamey police station, Abdoulkarim was incarcerated on 17 November after a first court appearance. The journalist was arrested after the treasurer-general of […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has urged the authorities in Niger to release Salifou Soumaila Abdoulkarim, publication director of the privately-owned weekly “Le Visionnaire”, as soon as possible. Detained since 12 November 2005 at the Niamey police station, Abdoulkarim was incarcerated on 17 November after a first court appearance. The journalist was arrested after the treasurer-general of the republic, Siddo Elhadj, filed a “defamation” complaint against him. He is currently held at the Niamey prison and his trial is scheduled to take place on 18 November.
“Defamation is not a crime, but a civil offence,” said RSF. “The existence of a dispute between a high-level official and a journalist never justifies imprisonment. Even if he is convicted, the journalist should be freed. While the entire political class in Niger had recommended the decriminalisation of press offences, this imprisonment highlights the urgency of abolishing unjust laws and responding to this democratic requirement.”
Elhadj filed a complaint against the journalist following publication of an article alleging that he had misappropriated 17 billion CFA francs (approx. 26 million euros).
Abdoulkarim has been imprisoned at a time when a debate over reforming the law on press offences is underway. Following the 6 January 2004 release of the publication director of the privately-owned weekly ” Le Républicain”, who was sentenced to six months in prison for “defamation”, the authorities in Niger committed to decriminalise press offences, according to an official communiqué at the time (see IFEX alerts of 6 January 2004, 23 December, 11, 10 and 6 November 2003).
