Niger: Tiémogo released
Abdoulaye Tiémogo, the publication director of the weekly magazine Canard Déchaîné was released from jail on Decemner 7. Tiémogo was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on 19 October for "defamation", and had been in detention for seven weeks.
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From: Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC), International PEN,
[email protected]
Subject: Niger: Tiémogo released after seven weeks of six-month sentence
RAPID ACTION NETWORK
13 December 2001
Update # 1 to RAN 42/01
Niger: Tiémogo released after seven weeks of six-month sentence
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN welcomes the release
on 7 December 2001 of Abdoulaye Tiémogo, the publication director of the
weekly magazine Canard Déchaîné. Tiémogo, who was sentenced to six months'
imprisonment on 19 October for "defamation", had been in detention for seven
weeks.
The release came in the wake of an appeal by the publication director
against his prison sentence as well as fines and damages totalling 5.1M CFA
francs (c. US$7,100). At the opening of the appeal process, the Minister of
Agriculture, Wassalké Boukari, withdrew his complaint. The sentence imposed
on Tiémogo had stemmed from an article in Canard Déchaîné in which it was
alleged that Boukari had embezzled 200M CFA francs (c. US$278,000) from the
proceeds of gold-mining.
Whilst gladdened by the news of Abdoulaye Tiémogo's freedom, International
PEN reiterates its view that cases of alleged defamation or insult should be
dealt with through the civil courts and should not entail custodial
sentences.
For further details contact Dixe Wills at the Writers in Prison Committee
London Office: 9-10 Charterhouse Buildings, London EC1M 7AT UK Tel: + 44 (0)
20 72 53 32 26 Fax: + 44 (0) 20 72 53 57 11 e-mail: [email protected]