- Update info:
- 18 Aug 2019 (Suspended)
- Latest info:
- 17 Jun 2019 (Updated)
- 19 Apr 2019
- Country:
- ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF MAURITANIA
- Subject:
- Cheikh Jiddou (he/his); Abderrahmane Weddady (he/his)
- Period:
- 18 Sep 2019
- Distribution date:
- 19 Apr 2019
- UA No:
- 049/2019
Bloggers Cheikh Jiddou and Abderrahmane Weddady were arbitrarily arrested on 22 March in Nouakchott. Both were arrested after posting comments on Facebook condemning corruption. Their comments came after media articles were published, accusing some Mauritanian officials of corruption. The two bloggers have been charged with ‘malicious accusation’. On 27 March, they were transferred to the Central prison of Nouakchott.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Abderrahmane Weddady is a high-profile Mauritanian blogger.
Cheikh Jiddou is a blogger and a founder of the youth movement ‘25 February’.
On March 22, the economic crimes police arrested the two bloggers after they responded to their summons for questioning. The office of the prosecutor in Mauritania said in a statement published the same day that information about the seizure and freezing of Mauritanian funds are ‘’absolutely not true‘’ and ‘’investigations will continue on the source of this false information‘’.
Before their arrest, international and national media including Al-Jazeera, Al-Quds and Al-Arabiya published articles alleging that authorities in the United Arab Emirates had frozen an account containing two billion dollars that was set up by persons close to the Mauritanian government. The two bloggers posted comments on Facebook condemning the alleged corruption based on information share in the media articles.
On March 7, Weddady and Jiddou were first questioned as witnesses by the economic crimes police following a lawsuit filed by some civil society organizations active against corruption and asking for justice to investigate alleged ill-gotten wealth involving some Mauritanian senior officials.
The police searched at Jiddou’s and Weddady’s house without a warrant on 25 March. They confiscated Weddady’s computer.
PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: [French]
You can also write in your own language.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: [24 05 2019]
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.
- Update info:
- 18 Aug 2019 (Suspended)
- Latest info:
- 17 Jun 2019 (Updated)
- 19 Apr 2019
- Country:
- ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF MAURITANIA
- Subject:
- Cheikh Jiddou (he/his); Abderrahmane Weddady (he/his)
- Period:
- 18 Sep 2019
- Distribution date:
- 17 Jun 2019
- UA No:
- 049/2019
Bloggers Cheikh Ould Jiddou and Abderrahmane Weddady were released on bail on 3 June. However, they are still facing the charge of ‘malicious accusation’ and their travel documents and national identification cards are being held by the economic crimes police. The two bloggers were arrested and detained on 22 March after posting comments on Facebook condemning corruption.
more
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
On 3 June, the Nouakchott Court ordered the release on bail of two high-profile Mauritanian bloggers, Abderrahmane Weddady and Cheikh Ould Jiddou.
Cheikh Ould Jiddou and Abderrahmane Weddady were arrested on 22 March by the Economic Crimes Police in Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott, charged with ‘malicious accusation’, and detained at the central prison.
Before their arrest, international and national media including Al-Jazeera, Al-Quds and Al-Arabiya published articles alleging that authorities in the United Arab Emirates had frozen an account containing two billion dollars that was set up by persons close to the Mauritanian government. The two bloggers posted comments on Facebook condemning the alleged corruption based on information shared in the media articles.
Although Abderrahmane and Cheikh Jiddou have been released, they cannot travel and cannot vote in the upcoming 22 June presidential elections as their national ID cards and passports are still confiscated by the authorities. They can also be jailed at any moment as the charge against them is still pending.
PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: [FRENCH, ARABIC]
You can also write in your own language.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: [24 July 2019]
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.
NAME AND PREFFERED PRONOUN: Cheikh Jiddou (he/his); Abderrahmane Weddady (he/his)
LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr38/0208/2019/en/
- Update info:
- 18 Aug 2019 (Suspended)
- Latest info:
- 17 Jun 2019 (Updated)
- 19 Apr 2019
- Country:
- ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF MAURITANIA
- Subject:
- Cheikh Jiddou (he/his); Abderrahmane Weddady (he/his)
- Period:
- 18 Sep 2019
- Distribution date:
- 18 Aug 2019
- UA No:
- 049/2019
All the charges against bloggers Cheikh Jiddou and Abderrahmane Weddady were dropped by a judge, who also dismissed the case against them, on 29 July. Their travel and identification documents were also returned to them. Both had been conditionally released on bail on 3 June.
NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.
Bloggers Cheikh Jiddou and Abderrahmane Weddady had their case dismissed after a judge dropped all charges against them on 29 July. Three days later on 1 August, their travel and identification documents were returned to them.
The two bloggers were arbitrarily arrested on 22 March by the economic crimes police in Nouakchott. This is after they posted comments on Facebook condemning corruption. Their comments came after media articles were published alleging that some Mauritanian officials had acquired wealth illegally and stashed it abroad. They were detained by the economic crimes police until 27 March, when they were taken to the prosecutor of West Nouakchott for questioning. Afterwards, they were transferred to the Central prison of Nouakchott.
The two were released on bail on 3 June.
‘‘I would like to thank sincerely all the Amnesty International members who have been mobilized since the beginning. I would like to assure them that I will not give up, my fight will continue to defend human rights in particular freedom of expression’’ said Cheikh Jiddou to Amnesty International.
NAME AND PREFERRED PRONOUN: Cheikh Jiddou (he/his); Abderrahmane Weddady (he/his)
THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL OUTPUT FOR UA 49/19
LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr38/0500/2019/en/ https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr37/3776/2016/en/
