mauritania: Islamist weekly banned
Reporters sans frontières (RSF) has voiced its concern about the banning of the Islamist weekly "Raya" and the closure of its offices under an Interior Ministry order on 1 June 2003. "As far as we know, this Islamist publication has never called for violence, contrary to what the Mauritanian authorities say," RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard said. "One cannot help thinking that this ban on a newspaper that was never sparing in its criticism of the government is simply a means to gag a part of the opposition six months before the presidential election," Ménard added.
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IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT - MAURITANIA
5 June 2003
Islamist weekly banned
SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris
(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has voiced its concern about the banning of the Islamist
weekly "Raya" and the closure of its offices under an Interior Ministry
order on 1 June 2003.
"As far as we know, this Islamist publication has never called for violence,
contrary to what the Mauritanian authorities say," RSF Secretary-General
Robert Ménard said. "One cannot help thinking that this ban on a newspaper
that was never sparing in its criticism of the government is simply a means
to gag a part of the opposition six months before the presidential
election," Ménard added.
"Raya" had previously been told to stop publishing in early May, when some
30 people in Islamist circles were arrested on charges of inciting violence.
Those detained included Jamil Mansour, a "Raya" contributor and member of
parliament.
"Raya" editor-in-chief Ould Wediaa, who is currently in hiding, told Agence
France-Presse on 30 May that the Interior Ministry had accused the newspaper
of trying to "sabotage" the government and promoting "intolerance." Wediaa
said the newspaper had simply reported the positions of all segments of the
political class. He described the ministry order as "arbitrary."
The 1 June ban was issued in accordance with Article 11 of the 25 July 1991
press freedom law, which says, "The Interior Ministry may, by decree, ban
the circulation, distribution or sale of newspapers [...] that harm the
principles of Islam or the credibility of the state, or are detrimental to
the general interest or disturb public order and security". In such
instances, the Interior Ministry is not required to offer any justification
for its decisions.
For further information, contact Virginie Locussol at RSF, rue Geoffroy
Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51,
e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.rsf.org
The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of RSF.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit RSF.
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