Djibouti: Journalist detained on charges of libel

**We apologise for any cross-posting - The following is being forwarded exactly
as received**

To: IFEX Autolist (other news of interest)
From: Writers in Prison Committee, International PEN, [email protected]

RAPID ACTION NETWORK

12 June 2003

RAN 34/03

Djibouti: Journalist detained on charges of libel

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is deeply concerned by the
prolonged detention of Daher Ahmed Farah, the editor of the newspaper Le
Renouveau and leader of the Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development
(MRD).

According to information received by International PEN, Farah was detained on 20
April 2003 following the filing of a complaint against Le Renouveau by General
Zakaria Cheik Ibrahim, the deputy head of the army. The general filed the
complaint after a 17 April article criticising him for lacking 'neutrality' and
saying that the army 'must not take sides'. Daher Ahmed Farah is presently the
subject of several libel suits by the armed forces. Several days after the
editor's detention, the Djibouti special police went to Farah's home and the
headquarters of the MRD where they confiscated a number of typewriters and all
of the newspaper's files despite having no search warrant.

On 3 June the editor was granted a provisional release by the investigating
judge. However the prosecutor appealed against the release and obtained an order
for Farah to be re-arrested. He was re-arrested on 5 June and has been held in
detention to date. General Ibrahim has offered to withdraw the current lawsuit
in return for a letter of apology but Farah has refused to do so. During his
short release the editor complained about the conditions of his detention. He
said he had been held in solitary confinement in a very small space, only a few
square metres in size, and that only his mother had been permitted to visit him.

International PEN calls upon the authorities in Djibouti to release Daher Ahmed
Farah immediately. PEN also calls upon these authorities to drop all charges
criminal charges against Daher Ahmed Farah and to guarantee the right to freedom
of expression and opinion in Djibouti.

Please send appeals:

- Calling for the immediate release of Daher Ahmed Farah and the dropping of all
criminal charges against him;
- Urging the authorities to safeguard the right of all Djiboutians to a free
press and to be able to express themselves without fear of reprisals;
- Demanding that whilst in detention Daher Ahmed Farah receives humanitarian
treatment and that he is not subjected to solitary confinement.

Appeals to:

Ismaïl Omar Guelleh
President of the Republic
Presidency of the Republic
Djbouti
Republic of Djibouti

Please send a copy of your appeal to:

Mohammed Goumaneh Guirreh
Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti
3-26 rue Emile Ménier
75016 Paris
France
Fax: + 33 1 45535053

For further details contact Sara Birch at the Writers in Prison Committee London
Office: 9-10 Charterhouse Buildings, London EC1M 7AT UK Tel: + 44 (0) 20 72 53
32 26 Fax: + 44 (0) 20 72 53 57 11 e-mail: [email protected]

____________________________
Sara Birch
International PEN
Writers in Prison Committee
9-10 Charterhouse Buildings
London EC1M 7AT U.K.

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7253 3226
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7253 5711
Email: [email protected]

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