In an unusual act contrary to national and international customs and laws, a police commissioner in Tevragh Zeina 2 summoned colleague El Heiba Ould Cheikh Sidaty, a Mauritanian Journalists’ Union member and director of the independent Al Akhbar news agency, this Saturday afternoon, 24. 08. 2019. When the colleague asked why he had been summoned, the commissioner ordered his officers to detain him and confiscate his phone. After El Heiba stated that he had no phone with him, the officers searched him and detained him in a foul-smelling room on the commissioner’s orders, demonstrating disregard for the country’s laws and customs.
The Mauritanian Journalists’ Union strongly condemns this conduct, which it considers a brazen violation of the honour of this demanding profession.
The Union expresses its dismay and condemnation at such conduct occurring in our country.
It calls on all authorities responsible for enforcing the law and preserving public freedoms to open an immediate investigation into this case.
The Union informs national public opinion and all concerned bodies that it is taking all legal steps to obtain redress for colleague El Heiba Ould Cheikh Sidaty.
The Union affirms that it will not remain silent or tolerate any violation of Mauritanian journalists’ freedom.
The Executive Bureau.