Nouakchott – Geneva: The Committee for Justice (CFJ) expresses its deep concern over reports from Mauritania regarding explicit and direct death threats received by human rights defender and President of the IRA movement, Mr. Biram Dah Abeid, via social media platforms.
The Committee strongly condemns the stance of the Mauritanian authorities. Despite being formally notified by Mr. Abeid—including the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice, and the President of the National Assembly—the authorities have failed to activate the necessary “legal proceedings” or direct the “Cybercrime Unit” to initiate an investigation. This stands in stark contrast to the swift responsiveness of these same services in cases involving the prosecution and imprisonment of human rights activists.
CFJ considers this “persistent inaction” toward documented threats against a human rights defender, globally renowned for his peaceful struggle against the remnants of slavery and discrimination through the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA), to be a grave violation of the Mauritanian state’s obligations to ensure the safety of individuals. This is particularly critical for human rights defenders of international stature. The Committee emphasizes that such official disregard constitutes a violation of the “Declaration on Human Rights Defenders” and the provisions relating to the right to life and personal security enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) warns that tolerance of hate speech and threats of physical liquidation opens the door to chaos and threatens “civil peace.” The Committee holds the Ministry of Interior and the judicial authorities fully responsible for any harm to Mr. Abeid’s physical safety. Furthermore, the Committee notes that this position contradicts the pledges made by Mauritania before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva regarding the protection of defenders and professionals.
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) demands an immediate end to the policy of “systematic silence” and the opening of an independent and transparent judicial investigation to identify and prosecute the perpetrator under applicable laws. It also calls for effective and urgent protective measures for Mr. Biram Dah Abeid and all targeted human rights defenders.
Finally, CFJ calls upon the “Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders” as well as the European Union and United States missions in Nouakchott to pressure the Mauritanian authorities to ensure a safe environment for human rights work, free from the intimidation of “kill and liquidation rhetoric.”