Website editor still held after completing six-month jail sentence

Reporters Without Borders calls for the immediate release of Hanevy Ould Dehah, the editor of the website Taqadoumy, who should have been freed 10 days ago on completing a six-month jail sentence on a charge of “offending public decency.” Arrested on 18 June and convicted on 19 August, Dehah began a hunger strike on 25 December in protest against his continuing detention. “We urge the judicial authorities to respect the law and release Dehah,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Keeping him in prison after he has finished serving an utterly disproportionate sentence is a serious violation of Mauritania’s laws. He must be freed without delay to avoid putting his health in jeopardy.” Reporters Without Borders raised the Dehah case when it met with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz during the official visit he made to France at the end of October. The press freedom organisation explained to the president that the case was due in part to the lack of legislation about online media. The organisation has just sent the Mauritanian government a series of recommendations aimed at bringing about a lasting improvement in the press freedom situation. One of the recommendations concerns Internet legislation. After several dozen journalists demonstrated in support of Dehah yesterday in Nouakchott, a Union of Mauritanian Journalists delegation was received by the justice minister, who undertook to do everything possible to obtain his release as soon as possible. Another sit-in is due to be held today.