Biram Ould Abeid, the president of the Initiative for the Revival of Abolitionist Movement (IRA), and his deputy president Brahim Abbeye, have been arrested with Djiby Sow the president of human rights NGO KAWTAL in December 2014. All three have been sentenced in mid-January 2015.
A press tycoon under judiciary control, a journalist assaulted, an imprisoned singer, three other anti-slavery activists sentenced, and mining industry unionists forbidden to demonstrate… they all share in common the will to contest the Mauritanian power.
« The guarantee to enjoy fundamental freedoms … »
Despite article 10 of the Mauritanian constitution which guarantees the freedoms of expression, of opinion, and of thought, several national and international NGO think that Mauritania is backtracking and old authoritarian habits die hard: « The guarantee to enjoy fundamental freedoms and the exercise of human rights without pressure by the Human rights defenders are ever more threatened by public authorities and local municipalities. Both are enjoying a margin of abuse of power without precedent in this country» says Karim Lahidji, president of the International Federation of Human Rights in Mauritania.
Many illustrate this tension of the regime.
Laureate of the United Nations prize for Human Rights in 2013, Biram Dah Ould Abeid came second at the last presidential elections in 2014. On January 15, a court in Rosso - 200km South of Nouakchott – has sentenced him to two years imprisonment because he took part to a non-authorised march and belongs to a non-recognised organisation –.
« To sue, and then sentence someone because he is active in the fight against slavery is a crime too. One can only notice setbacks to the freedoms of expression and of association, another proof can be found through the sentencing of Biram and his companions » regrets Lawyer Brahim Ould Ebetty, Member of the legal defence for Biram and his fellow prisoners.
On December 24, 2014, Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mkheitir (29), author of an article judged «as detrimental to Islam and to the person of Prophet Mohamed » has been sentenced to death for apostasy by the criminal Court in Nouadhibou (economic capital of Mauritania). Moustapha Ould Abeidrrahamane, member of the National Assembly and president of the party Democratic Renewal (RD), stated on March 30, that «Had Ould Mkheïtir not been blacksmith (forgeron), he would not have been sentenced for apostasy ».
The crime for which Ould Mkheitir has been found guilty is foreseen by article 306 of the Mauritanian penal code. Mr. Ahmed Ould Isselmou the Republic procurer to the Court in Nouadhibou who represented the State investigator called for this article in his conclusions which requested the death penalty for the accused, conclusions followed by the Court. This article states « anyone found guilty of the crime of apostasy, unless having expressed previously repentance, shall be punished with death penalty ».
« Calling for murder is a crime »…..
Thursday June 5, 2014, Yehdhih Ould Dahi, leader of the Mauritanian radical Islam movement Ahbab Errassoul (friends of the prophet), launched a fatwa sentencing to death human right activist Mint El Moctar. In a text published on the Mauritanian website « 28 November », the radical leader criticised her defence of the young Cheikh Ould Mkheitir early 2014. Aminetou Mint El Moctar said she was determined to « keep fighting ideas proclaimed by the head of the Friends of the Prophet. The call for murder is a crime », she reiterated.
Media widely commented the affair, such as Nouvel Observateur: «In this affair, the partiality of the judge is blatant. The repentance of Mkheitir has had no impact of the legal classification of his action or on the actual result of the trial. Henceforth, the principle of fair trial which should be enjoyed by any Mauritanian has been flouted by Mauritanian judiciary. The investigation in this affair has been one sided and has been conducted only against the defendant under political and religious pressure. This is an obvious violation of the rights of the defendant; we have documented the lack of fair trial, the investigation turned into one sided prosecution, and the lack of legal classification of the incrimination».
« ….freedoms are being torpedoed in this country »
On January 28, 2015, the Dar Naim Hakem (state’s representative) prevented the trade union Confédération libre des Travailleurs de Mauritanie (CLTM Free Confederation of Mauritanian Workers) to organise a union activity together with the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development. According to CLTM, this was no more than an awareness campaign on the Mauritanian legal framework against slavery. The Hakem justifies himself claiming that union work is not compatible with politics, at a time when this action was, according to him, nothing less than political.
«There is a new vision in government which is to squash all sensitivity and opinions among actors fighting to denounce the slavery which is still in practice in Mauritania » says Samory Ould Bèye, General Secretary of CLTM. « If the population is not allowed to express itself, to say what she means, her thoughts, then these are evidence that basic freedoms are torpedoed in this country. ».
« Organisations of women rights defenders have been forbidden to demonstrate, and the same ban was faced by the trade unionists who protested against the working conditions (at the state mining conglomerate) SNIM, and the same for defenders of the rights of Harratines (descendants of former slaves) » says an activist for Human rights, under strict anonymity. « For several weeks now, security authorities are rejecting all kind of demonstration or sit-ins. »
Not long ago, Hamada, a member of Ewlad Lebled, the Mauritanian rap band member, has been imprisoned. State prosecution charged him of rape and drug usage. The charge followed the band’s provocation at the festival of ancient cities in Shinguetti: as he was invited to sing praise to the President, the band chanted its last song called: «get out! ». Ewlad Lebled had produced several songs against President Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz. The spokesperson for the Youth Commission at the party in power, the UPR, accuses the bands to be financed by Mohamed Bouamatou, a Mauritanian businessman exiled for his problems with his cousin, the Head of State.
« The imprisonment of my client is a striking example of the lack of respect for freedom of expression in Mauritania » states Lawyer Mohamed Mbarek Ould Mohamed Vall, defending the rap singer Hamad Ould Sidi, member of the Ewlad Lebled band before he got provisory release.
«Hamada is in probation. His case is undergoing prosecution. Supreme Court has confirmed the decision of the judge. He is under strict judiciary control. He must sign up twice a week at the police station. We are waiting for the notification of the end of the investigation to request that the case be dismissed without charge» adds Me Vall after provisory freedom was granted to his client.
« Ould Abdel Aziz is directly involved »…..
Journalist for the Taqadoumy website, Hanevy Ould Dehah describes the aggression he endured as the result of his editorial line. His site denounces bad governance, corruption, embezzlement of public funds in which he claims « Ould Abdel Aziz is directly implicated ».
« The freedoms of expression and of the press have markedly been halted in Mauritania when one compares with the regime of Ould Taya » he added « despite several cosmetic changes consented by the Ould Abdel Aziz regime».
