Senegalese journalist Pape Alé Niang, detained six days ago for “information likely to harm national defense“, is “very experiencedby his hunger strike andwas evacuated to a hospitalone of his lawyers told AFP on Sunday.
Pope Ale Nianghas been evacuated to the Principal Hospital (in Dakar) since yesterday (Saturday) evening. He is very exhausted by his hunger strike“that he observes”since his new incarceration on TuesdayDecember 20, told AFP Me Moussa Sarr, confirming information from the Coordination of Press Associations (CAP), a local trade union confederation.
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Boss of the Dakar Matin news site, Mr. Niang was returned to prison on December 20 after being released and placed under judicial supervision on December 14. His judicial review came after more than a month of detention near Dakar for “disclosure of information likely to harm national defense», «concealment of administrative and military documents” and “spreading fake news“. The Dakar prosecutor’s office announced on December 20 in a press release that it had “revoked” this judicial review.
He had justified it bymedia releases» of the journalist who are «a breach of duty“who him”were forbidden to communicate in any form on the facts subject to prosecution“. However, according to the prosecution,the defendant has largely contravened his obligations by voluntarily addressing during his lives on Youtube the facts prosecuted“and during which he led”unjustified attacks both on a police authority and on investigators“.
The journalist claims to dothe object of an abominable relentlessness and persecution“on the part of the Senegalese power which has”decided to silence him at all costs“, in a press release published the day of his return to prison. The journalist’s detention sparked a wave of criticism from the press and civil society against the authorities. Senegal is readily praised by its partners for its democratic practices, but human rights defenders qualify this assessment. Senegal is 73rd out of 180 in the latest press freedom ranking established by Reporters Without Borders. The country fell 24 places compared to 2021.
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