The Mauritanian Journalists’ Union condemned the arrest of journalist Ahmedou Ould El Wedia and called for his release and access to his legal rights.
In a press statement today, Sunday, the Union said it had “followed with deep regret the arrest by the security authorities of fellow journalist Ahmedou Ould El Wedia, a Union member”.
It stated that it had acted as soon as it learned the news “to establish the colleague’s place of detention, the circumstances of his arrest and the nature of the charges against him, but has not yet been able to obtain any information about him”, according to the statement.
It added: “While condemning the arrest of colleague Ahmedou Ould El Wedia and the refusal to allow his lawyer and family to visit him, the Journalists’ Union calls on the Mauritanian authorities to release him and grant him access to his legal rights.”
The Union concluded that it “will continue its efforts to defend journalists, protect media freedoms and reject any restriction or infringement of the gains achieved by Mauritanian journalists through decades of struggle and sacrifice”.