(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a joint MISA-MFWA alert: During the week of 12 to 18 October 2003, authorities at the Ministry of Interior, Post and Telecommunications in the capital, Nouakchott, banned or seized the print runs of four weekly newspapers. The affected publications are “Le Calame”, “Le Journal du Jeudi”, “Le Sahara” and “Essahiva”. […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a joint MISA-MFWA alert:
During the week of 12 to 18 October 2003, authorities at the Ministry of Interior, Post and Telecommunications in the capital, Nouakchott, banned or seized the print runs of four weekly newspapers. The affected publications are “Le Calame”, “Le Journal du Jeudi”, “Le Sahara” and “Essahiva”.
According to MFWA-Mauritania, the ministry, as usual, provided no explanation for the latest crackdown. It is significant, however, that the actions came a few days before the 22 October start of official campaigning for the presidential elections, slated for 7 November.
The Ministry of Interior, Post and Telecommunications frequently invokes Act 91-023, the Law on Press Freedom in Mauritania, to censure publications perceived to be opposed to the government.
Article 11 of this anti-media legislation stipulates, in part, that, “The circulation, dissemination or sale of newspapers or periodicals likely to undermine the principle of Islam or the image of the state, to harm the public good, to compromise public order and security, whatever the language in which it is written, may be banned by an order from the Ministry of Interior”. The law also requires all newspapers to deposit five copies of every edition with the ministry and to obtain a permit to circulate the particular issue.
At an 18 October meeting, newspaper publishers expressed concern about the discretionary and arbitrary use of the law against independent publications. They condemned the government’s repressive attitude and demanded greater freedom and respect for the rule of law as conditions for free elections and genuine democracy in Mauritania.
