Nouakchott – Geneva: The Committee for Justice (CFJ) expresses its strongest condemnation of the ongoing arbitrary detention of activist and human rights defender Youssouf Camara. Mr. Camara has been held in “pre-trial detention” since his arrest following his peaceful activism and the expression of his critical views via digital platforms.
Information monitored by the Committee indicates that Mr. Camara was subjected to investigations by the “Judicial Police” (State Security) before being referred to the “Public Prosecutor.” He was subsequently charged with vague offenses based on provisions of the controversial “Law on the Protection of National Symbols.” CFJ considers these procedures a blatant attempt to legitimize the restriction of public freedoms and to silence defenders, professionals, and field activists.
CFJ maintains that the targeting of Mr. Camara constitutes a grave violation of “due process.” The Committee emphasizes that his detention conditions in the “Civil Prison” of Nouakchott—devoid of fair trial guarantees—represent a setback for Mauritania’s constitutional achievements, specifically Article 10 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of opinion and expression. Furthermore, this action stands in direct contradiction to the State’s obligations under the African Charter on Human Rights and Peoples’ Peoples.
Accordingly, the Committee for Justice (CFJ) underscores that the instrumentalization of “Symbols Laws” and “Cybercrime Laws” as tools for legal repression against dissidents and activists places Mauritania in direct confrontation with its international obligations, particularly Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Such practices undermine the country’s standing before United Nations mechanisms in Geneva, which have repeatedly called for the protection of human rights defenders.
The Committee for Justice concludes its statement by demanding that the Mauritanian authorities immediately and unconditionally release activist Youssouf Camara and drop all charges against him. CFJ further calls for a serious national dialogue to reform the restrictive legislative framework to ensure that lawyers, activists, and professionals can exercise their oversight and human rights roles without fear of prosecution or judicial harassment.