Djibouti: Jailed outspoken opposition leader must be released, says amnesty

News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International
AI Index: AFR 23/001/2003
14 July 2003

Amnesty International is calling for the immediate and unconditional
release of Daher Ahmed Farah, an opposition party leader and director of
his party's newspaper.

Daher Ahmed Farah, a prisoner of conscience, has been repeatedly arrested
because of his peacefully-held political opinions. He started a three-month
prison sentence in Gabode prison in Djibouti-ville on 9 July 2003 after the
prosecutor won an appeal against his acquittal on a charge of libel
(diffamation) against the army's Chief of Staff and an army women's
folklore group. The appeal court imposed a six-month prison sentence (with
three months suspended), heavy damages and a fine, and banned the party's
newspaper for six months.

"Public officials who consider themselves defamed have the right of reply
and if that is insufficient they can legitimately resort to legal actions
to defend their reputation," Amnesty International said. "But this should
not involve, as it has done in Daher Ahmed Farah's case, detention by the
police, arbitrary refusal of bail (liberté provisoire), state prosecution
and prison sentences."

Djibouti's constitution guarantees freedom of the press, and just last year
Djibouti ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
which protects the right to freedom of expression.

"Criminal legislation contravening the right to freedom of expression,
which the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights has called 'a
cornerstone of democracy', has been used to stifle media criticism of the
authorities and silence a prominent peaceful opponent," said Amnesty
International

Background

Daher Ahmed Farah is the president of the opposition Movement for
Democratic Renewal and Development (Mouvement pour le renouveau
démocratique et le développement, MRD) and director of its newspaper,
Djibouti Renewal (Le Renouveau djiboutien).

He was detained in March 2003 on account of an article he published,
summarily convicted the next day for "undermining army morale" and
"publishing false information". He was given a six-month prison sentence
and fine. The following month he received a second six-month suspended
sentence, which was reduced on appeal.

Days later, he was re-arrested on the basis of a complaint by the army's
Chief of Staff. He was detained for over a month before being granted bail,
rearrested two days later, and tried and acquitted on 23 June. The
acquittal was reversed on 9 July when Daher Ahmed Farah was returned to prison.

View all documents on Djibouti
http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabfLDaaZbbybdTYAHb/

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