(RSF/IFEX) – On 16 June 1999 RSF sent a letter to Mauritanian Minister of the Interior M. Dah Ould Abdel Jellil protesting the censorship of the independent weekly “La Tribune”. The censorship was in accordance with Article 11 of the Press Law. In denouncing the “abusive and arbitrary nature of this decision”, RSF asked that […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 16 June 1999 RSF sent a letter to Mauritanian Minister of
the Interior M. Dah Ould Abdel Jellil protesting the censorship of the
independent weekly “La Tribune”. The censorship was in accordance with
Article 11 of the Press Law. In denouncing the “abusive and arbitrary nature
of this decision”, RSF asked that “Article 11 of the Press Law be repealed
in order to allow independent Mauritanian journalists to work freely without
being pushed into self-censorship.”
According to information obtained by RSF, distribution of the 12 June issue
of “La Tribune” (no. 117) was prohibited by the minister of the interior,
who relied on Article 11 of the Press Law. The newspaper’s management was
not provided with any explanation. According to management, the issue which
was censored contained two articles which could have been embarassing for
authorities, including one dealing with the Western Sahara.
