Mauritania
28.05.01
Urgent Interventions
Mauritania: Violation of the freedom of movement
URGENT APPEAL - THE OBSERVATORY
MAU 001/0105/OBS 044
Freedom of movement/Refusal of entry
Mauritania
28th May 2001
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of FIDH and OMCT, requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Mauritania.
Description of the facts :
Moussa Maïga, a member of the Mali Bar and of the Malian Human Rights Association (AMDH), sent as an FIDH observer to the trial of Mr. Chbih Cheikh Ould Malaïnine, leader of the Mauritanian Popular Front (FPM) was refused entry to Mauritanian territory on his arrival at Nouakchott airport on Sunday 27th May. Mr. Chbih Cheikh Ould Malaïnine is being prosecuted for "adherence to a criminal association" and his trial opens this Monday 28 May 2001 before the Criminal Court of the town of Aioun, 800 km from the capital. Mr. Maïga was not given any written notification of this ban on entry to the country; he was merely informed that clear instructions had been received that he was to be turned back before passing the police check point. This treatment of Mr. Moussa Maïga is in blatant contradiction with the Declaration on human rights defenders adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 9 December 1998, in particular with Article 9.3b which states that "In the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the promotion and protection of human rights as referred to in the present Declaration, everyone has the right individually and in association with others, to attend public hearings, proceedings and trials so as to form an opinion on their compliance with national law and applicable international obligations and commitments".
The Observatory condemns the measure taken against Moussa Maïga, aimed at hindering the activity of human rights defenders.
Action requested :
Kindly write to the Mauritanian authorities requesting them :
i. to apply the principles and international standards with respect to human rights, including the terms of the Declaration on human rights defenders adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 9 December 1998, in particular Article 1 which states that "Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels" and Article 9.3b quoted above;
ii. to comply generally with the terms of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights which guarantees freedom of movement and security of all citizens, and with regional and international protocols ratified by Mauritania.
Addresses :
Son Excellence
Monsieur le Président Maaouiya Ould Sid `Ahmed Taya
Président de la République
La Présidence
BP 184 Nouakchott
Mauritanie
Fax: + 222 2 52636
Monsieur Dah Ould Abdel Jelil
Ministre de l'Intérieur, des Postes et des Télécommunications
Ministère de l'Intérieur, des Postes et des Télécommunications
BP 195 Nouakchott
Mauritanie
Fax: + 222 2 53661
Monsieur Lemrabott Sidi Mahmoud Ould Cheikh Ahmed
Ministre de la Justice
Ministère de la Justice
BP 350 Nouakchott
Mauritania
Fax: + 222 2 57002 or + 222 2 549 95
Paris – Geneva, 28 May 2001
The Observatory, a joint programme of FIDH and OMCT is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and strives to offer them concrete support in their time of need.
The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
Tel: FIDH +33 (0) 1 43 55 20 11 - OMCT +41 22 809 49 39
E-mail: observatoire@iprolink.ch
MAU 001/0105/OBS 044
Freedom of movement/Refusal of entry
Mauritania
28th May 2001
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of FIDH and OMCT, requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Mauritania.
Description of the facts :
Moussa Maïga, a member of the Mali Bar and of the Malian Human Rights Association (AMDH), sent as an FIDH observer to the trial of Mr. Chbih Cheikh Ould Malaïnine, leader of the Mauritanian Popular Front (FPM) was refused entry to Mauritanian territory on his arrival at Nouakchott airport on Sunday 27th May. Mr. Chbih Cheikh Ould Malaïnine is being prosecuted for "adherence to a criminal association" and his trial opens this Monday 28 May 2001 before the Criminal Court of the town of Aioun, 800 km from the capital. Mr. Maïga was not given any written notification of this ban on entry to the country; he was merely informed that clear instructions had been received that he was to be turned back before passing the police check point. This treatment of Mr. Moussa Maïga is in blatant contradiction with the Declaration on human rights defenders adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 9 December 1998, in particular with Article 9.3b which states that "In the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the promotion and protection of human rights as referred to in the present Declaration, everyone has the right individually and in association with others, to attend public hearings, proceedings and trials so as to form an opinion on their compliance with national law and applicable international obligations and commitments".
The Observatory condemns the measure taken against Moussa Maïga, aimed at hindering the activity of human rights defenders.
Action requested :
Kindly write to the Mauritanian authorities requesting them :
i. to apply the principles and international standards with respect to human rights, including the terms of the Declaration on human rights defenders adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 9 December 1998, in particular Article 1 which states that "Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels" and Article 9.3b quoted above;
ii. to comply generally with the terms of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights which guarantees freedom of movement and security of all citizens, and with regional and international protocols ratified by Mauritania.
Addresses :
Son Excellence
Monsieur le Président Maaouiya Ould Sid `Ahmed Taya
Président de la République
La Présidence
BP 184 Nouakchott
Mauritanie
Fax: + 222 2 52636
Monsieur Dah Ould Abdel Jelil
Ministre de l'Intérieur, des Postes et des Télécommunications
Ministère de l'Intérieur, des Postes et des Télécommunications
BP 195 Nouakchott
Mauritanie
Fax: + 222 2 53661
Monsieur Lemrabott Sidi Mahmoud Ould Cheikh Ahmed
Ministre de la Justice
Ministère de la Justice
BP 350 Nouakchott
Mauritania
Fax: + 222 2 57002 or + 222 2 549 95
Paris – Geneva, 28 May 2001
The Observatory, a joint programme of FIDH and OMCT is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and strives to offer them concrete support in their time of need.
The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
Tel: FIDH +33 (0) 1 43 55 20 11 - OMCT +41 22 809 49 39
E-mail: observatoire@iprolink.ch