Mauritania's opposition coalition, Qawwal al-Inqadh, has rejected what it describes as "double standards" in the country's handling of bloggers and their relatives. The coalition demanded that the law be applied equally to all, without exception, and that influence, status, or family ties not be used as a means of evading accountability. This statement comes in response to recent arrests of bloggers and their relatives.
The coalition's statement also criticized the principle of criminalizing or detaining individuals solely based on family ties, unless there is a clear and specific legal suspicion supported by evidence and procedures sanctioned by law. They also expressed concerns over the denial of basic guarantees to some detainees, which they believe should not be suspended or curtailed except within the limits permitted by law.
According to the coalition, combating abuse cannot be done outside the framework of the law, and protecting dignity and privacy does not justify violating legal guarantees or infringing on the fundamental rights of detainees. They emphasized that criminal responsibility is personal and cannot be extended to relatives based solely on family ties.
The coalition also condemned the revocation of the parliamentary membership of two Mauritanian women, Meryem Sheikh Jeng and Kaamo Ashour Salem, and their exclusion from the National Assembly. This decision was made after the Constitutional Council declared them to have lost their seats.
The opposition coalition recalled that the two women were previously barred from entering the parliament before the final judgment was made. They argued that the process was concluded with the loss of their parliamentary seats under what they described as "suspicious political insistence" and "abuse of power in interpreting texts and applying judgments."
The coalition views this incident as revealing a "political manipulation of institutions," holding the executive power responsible for undermining their independence and rendering parliamentary pluralism meaningless. They argue that when the will of voters is overridden by accusations of indecency, resulting in the loss of parliamentary seats, it amounts to using institutions as tools to eliminate political representation.
The coalition described this development as extremely dangerous to freedoms, democracy, and political life in Mauritania. They expressed their rejection of using indecency as a pretext for punishment that negates the voters' choice and shields the authorities from criticism and accountability.
Key points
- The Mauritanian opposition coalition rejects double standards in the treatment of bloggers and politicians.
- The coalition criticizes the use of family ties as a basis for detention or prosecution.
- The opposition condemns the revocation of parliamentary membership of two women, citing political manipulation.
