In Mauritania, preparations are underway to refer the individuals detained in the case known as the "foreign bloggers file" to the public prosecutor's office in Nouakchott. According to sources close to the matter, the authorities are expediting the process, with a possible referral date set for Wednesday. The case involves more than 15 people who have been under investigation.
The State Security department conducted the investigation into the detainees in this case, shrouding their file in complete secrecy. Meanwhile, the Economic Crimes Police handled the investigation into several of them, particularly real estate brokers. The public prosecutor's office justified the prolonged detention of the suspects, citing the need for further investigation and preventing their lawyers from meeting them.
The public prosecutor's office invoked the last paragraph of Article 58 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which allows for exceptions in cases related to state security and terrorism. This provision denies suspects in such cases the right to consult with their lawyers during the theoretical guard period, without undermining other legal guarantees afforded to them.
The case, which the government described as involving a "network for financial extortion," allegedly manufactured and disseminated false news. The authorities claimed that the network's activities included threats, extortion, and the purchase of silence, affecting the rights and reputations of others. The suspects have been in detention for almost a month and a half.
The investigation into the "foreign bloggers" case led to the arrest of several individuals suspected of involvement in the alleged network. Their detention has been a subject of interest, given the secrecy surrounding the case and the authorities' justification for prolonging their detention.
Human rights organizations and concerned parties have been monitoring the situation closely, given the implications of the case on freedom of expression and the press. The Mauritanian government has faced criticism for its handling of the case, with some questioning the justification for the prolonged detention of the suspects.
As the authorities prepare to refer the case to the public prosecutor's office, many are awaiting the next developments in this case. The prosecution's decision will likely have significant implications for the suspects and the broader context of freedom of expression in Mauritania.
Key points
- The Mauritanian authorities are set to prosecute over 15 individuals detained in the "foreign bloggers" case.
- The case involves allegations of financial extortion and the dissemination of false news.
- The public prosecutor's office has justified the prolonged detention of the suspects, citing the need for further investigation.
