Case against Human rights defender Ahmed Bello Issoufou dismissed
On 22 March, the case against human rights defender Ahmed Bello Issoufou was dismissed and the defender was released from the Central Prison of Niamey. The court ruled that the charges of defamation levied against the defender were unfounded.
On 10 March, human rights defender Ahmed Bello Issoufou was summoned by the judicial police for a matter of concern. The human rights defender presented himself at the Niamey judicial police station and was arrested on the grounds of a defamation complaint filed against him by an officer of the national security forces of Filingue. The defamation complaint referred to a post on the human rights defender’s social media page denouncing the release of a teacher in a sexual violence case. The human rights defender is currently detained at the Central Prison of Niamey with access to his lawyer and his family. A trial has been scheduled for 22nd March.
Ahmed Bello Issoufou is a human rights defender and an active member of the Tournons La Page (Let’s Turn the Page) coalition’s Niger branch. His work involves promoting human rights, advocating for civil and political rights and fighting corruption and bad governance in Niger.
On 22 March, the case against human rights defender Ahmed Bello Issoufou was dismissed and the defender was released from the Central Prison of Niamey. The court ruled that the charges of defamation levied against the defender were unfounded.
Ahmed Bello Issoufou is a human rights defender and an active member of the Tournons La Page (Let’s Turn the Page) coalition’s Niger branch. His work involves promoting human rights, advocating for civil and political rights and fighting corruption and bad governance in Niger.
On 10 March, human rights defender Ahmed Bello Issoufou was summoned by the judicial police for a matter of concern. The human rights defender presented himself at the Niamey judicial police station and was arrested on the grounds of a defamation complaint filed against him by an officer of the national security forces of Filingue. The defamation complaint referred to a post on the human rights defender’s social media page denouncing the release of a teacher in a sexual violence case.
Front Line Defenders welcomes the release of Ahmed Bello Issoufou and urges the authorities in Niger to take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of human rights defenders in the country.
On 10 March, human rights defender Ahmed Bello Issoufou was summoned by the judicial police for a matter of concern. The human rights defender presented himself at the Niamey judicial police station and was arrested on the grounds of a defamation complaint filed against him by an officer of the national security forces of Filingue. The defamation complaint referred to a post on the human rights defender’s social media page denouncing the release of a teacher in a sexual violence case. The human rights defender is currently detained at the Central Prison of Niamey with access to his lawyer and his family. A trial has been scheduled for 22nd March.
Ahmed Bello Issoufou is a human rights defender and an active member of the Tournons La Page (Let’s Turn the Page) coalition’s Niger branch. His work involves promoting human rights, advocating for civil and political rights and fighting corruption and bad governance in Niger.
On 10 March, human rights defender Ahmed Bello Issoufou received a phone call from the judicial police to present himself to their office for a matter of concern. The human rights defender immediately presented himself to the judicial police. He was subsequently arrested on the grounds of a defamation complaint filed against him by an officer of the national security forces of Filingue, a town in the south west of Niger. He endured several hours of interrogation and has since been held in pre-trial detention.
According to his organisation, Ahmed Bello Issoufou is being arbitrarily detained due to a post on the human rights defender’s social media page denouncing the release of a teacher in a sexual violence case. The human rights defender is currently detained at the Central Prison of Niamey with access to his lawyer and his family.
Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned about the arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights defender Ahmed Bello Issoufou, as it strongly believes that this is directly linked to his peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights.
