niger: CPJ protests journalist's detention
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed concern over the continued imprisonment of Ibrahim Souley, the publication director of the private weekly "L'Enquêteur". Souley is expected to face trial on charges of spreading propaganda and "inciting ethnic hatred".
IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ACTION ALERT UPDATE - NIGER
6 October 2003
CPJ protests journalist's detention
SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York
**Updates IFEX alert of 18 September 2003**
(CPJ/IFEX) - In a 6 October 2003 letter to President Mamadou Tandja, CPJ
expressed concern over the continued imprisonment of Ibrahim Souley, the
publication director of the private weekly "L'Enquêteur". Souley is expected to
face trial on 7 October on charges of spreading propaganda and "inciting ethnic
hatred".
The charges stem from an article published in September in "L'Enquêteur"
alleging that businessmen from eastern Niger had complained that the government
was awarding too many contracts to a businessman from the west. On 13 September,
police officers arrested Souley, along with Soumana Maïga, the newspaper's
founder, in the capital, Niamey.
Maïga was released after several hours, during which he was questioned about his
work at the newspaper, the journalist told CPJ. However, Souley was held for 48
hours at police headquarters before being transferred to Niamey's Central
Prison.
A lawyer working for Souley's defense told CPJ that the journalist could face a
maximum of five years in prison.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to the president:
- condemning the incarceration of Souley and calling for his immediate release
- expressing your opinion that journalists should never be imprisoned for their
work
- calling on him to ensure that Niger journalists can practice their profession
freely, without fear of criminal punishment
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency Mamadou Tandja
President of the Republic of Niger
Niamey, Niger
Fax: +227 733 430
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
For further information, contact Adam Posluns (ext. 107) or Alexis Arieff (ext.
117) at CPJ, 330 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465 9344,
fax: +1 212 465 9568, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
Internet: http://www.cpj.org/
The information contained in this action alert update is the sole responsibility
of CPJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit CPJ.
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