(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to State Prosecutor Maty Moussa, RSF requested the release of three journalists from the private weekly “L’Enquêteur”. “Without commenting on the details of the case, we ask you to see to it that these three journalists are temporarily released, at least in the interim,” urged Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to State Prosecutor Maty Moussa, RSF requested the release of three journalists from the private weekly “L’Enquêteur”. “Without commenting on the details of the case, we ask you to see to it that these three journalists are temporarily released, at least in the interim,” urged Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. “We remind you that in January 2000, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and freedom of expression stated that imprisonment as punishment for the peaceful expression of an opinion is a serious violation of human rights,” added Ménard.
According to information collected by RSF, on 30 October, the Niamey Magistrates’ Court refused to grant a temporary release to Sumana Maïga, founder of “L’Enquêteur”, as well as Dahirou Gouro and Salif Dago, managing editor and journalist with the weekly, respectively. The journalists were arrested between 23 and 25 October and are being held at Niamey’s civil prison. The three men are accused of “disturbing public order”. On 3 October, “L’Enquêteur” published an article about a dispute between Niger and Benin concerning the island of Lété. The incriminating article stated that Benin closed its border and that Niger sent troops to the area. That information had already been published in several Beninese newspapers. The three journalists’ trial is scheduled to begin on 13 November.
