Senegalese justice has again rejected the request for provisional freedom of the investigative journalist, very weakened by a hunger strike.
by coumba kane
At Dakar’s main hospital, a patient lets himself die. Since his reincceration, on December 20, 2022, Pope Alé Niang has not eaten. The Senegalese investigation journalist, criticism of power, is accused of having disclosed “sensitive” information. Six days ago, his hunger strike took a critical turning point: he now refuses medical care.
Tuesday evening January 3, the Dakar prosecutor’s office once again rejected the provisional release request for Pope Alé Niang, even though his relatives and his lawyers alert to the “extremely worrying” degradation of his state of health. Moussa Sarr, one of his advice that visited him, is indignant, his voice knotted: “Imagine in what state you can be after fourteen days without eating. I am extremely worried. The doctors no longer have visibility on his state of health, because he does not wish to be examined. “
The coordination of highly mobilized press associations in Senegal organized a rally in front of the press house on Wednesday to claim its immediate release.
“whistleblower”
In a little biting Senegalese media landscape, Pope Alé Niang is a scratch -free hair for power. At the head of Dakar morning, an online newspaper on which the “state scandals” have their own section, it strokes the management, sometimes hazardous, of public funds by the government. The journalist also carved out a popularity thanks to his “live” on the Facebook page of his newspaper, in which he discusses the current affairs.
i’m receiving very disturbing reports about the deteriorating health of human Rights Defender and journalist Pape a… https://t.co/wfgkezvuuc
“He is very well introduced in power circles and has good information. His profile worries the authorities, who, by being tested on him, try to silence him”, analyzes Sadibou Marong, director of the regional office From reporters without borders (RSF) for West Africa, who assimilates the journalist to a “whistleblower”.
“Pope Alé Niang has always been on the regime in place. Under Abdoulaye Wade [President of Senegal from 2000 to 2012] Also he was carrying out investigations against the excesses of the State”, abounds Ibrahima Lissa Faye, president of the association of online press professionals (call), very committed to the defense of Pope Alé Niang.
The case, which keeps the Senegalese networks and the press in turn, began on November 9, 2022 with the journalist’s indictment for “disclosure of information not made public by the competent authority likely to harm the National defense “,” concealment of administrative and military documents “and” dissemination of false news likely to discredit public institutions “.
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