July 31 2003

Press Release

Statement regarding torture and ill treatment of political prisoners in Mauritania

The Mauritanian Human Rights Watch has been informed that some of the current political prisoners have been subjected to torture in the capital Nouakchott. At least seven prisoners are known to have been severely tortured during the night from Monday July the 28th to Tuesday the 29th 2003, under police chief supervisor Ould Immeynnah, at the "Arafat 2" police station. The same prisoners had already been tortured in the same police station all the night of Friday the 25th to Saturday the 26th. Each time the victims are severely beaten, humiliated and deprived of sleep.

Approximately forty political prisoners are still held at the prison of "Beyla" in Nouakchott. Their conditions have seriously deteriorated these last weeks after the nomination of officer Mohamed Ould Taya, cousin of the Head of the State, as chief of guards. Much hardliner than his predecessor, Ould Taya denied visits to the families of the prisoners, prior to obtaining a magistrate agreement. Moreover the magistrate is under the orders of the officer! He approves visit authorizations rarely and only after a long insistence and even perhaps a bribe...

In addition, with no legal justification, the judge has stopped the instruction with the prisoners. He thus blocked them with no judgment, nor release, in violation of the Mauritanian laws as well as the international charters ratified by Mauritania.

We, at the Mauritanian Human Rights Watch, after thorough verification of these data and dangerous evolutions:

Insist on the immediate end of torture and ill treatment of political prisoners in Mauritania, and on the punishment of the police officers and guards responsible for these inhuman practices.

Demand the immediate release of all political prisoners, starting from the senior of them, Mohamed Lemine Chbih Ould Cheykh Malaynin, as well as the tenants of the prison of "Beyla".

Call upon the international organizations of human rights and all the consciences all over the world to exert heir pressure on the Mauritanian authority so that it stops practicing he policy of repression and torture.

Mauritanian Human Rights Watch (MHRW)

July 31 2003

For more information, contact:

President of the MHRW on 0018067863419

General Secretary of the MHRW on 0033660380721