We received news today that the prisoners in Aleg have begun a hunger strike to protest the conditions of their internment.
Biram Dah Abeid, Brahim Bilal Ramdane and Djiby Sow were sentenced on January 15, 2015 to two years imprisonment for participating in a peaceful anti-slavery protest.
They are in a very dangerous prison in Aleg, Mauritania. The director of the prison has refused them proper food, saying that because they do not properly belong in his prison he does not have the budget to feed them. Normally the anti-slavery activists should be in a prison in Nouakchott, because that is where their appeal will be heard. For unknown reasons — but apparently to make their imprisonment harsher and more dangerous for their health and safety — they were sent to Aleg.
Last week the spousal visits for the prisoners were suddenly cut off. Already spouses were only allowed to visit two times per week.
Otherwise only lawyers and high ranking politicians have been allowed to visit.
THE HUNGER STRIKE:
IRA Mauritania announces that the hunger strike of these prisoners, beginning on Monday the 23 of February, follows on a letter they wrote on the 12th of February that protested the abuse they have suffered since arriving at Aleg. The protesters are claiming their rights as political prisoners and prisoners of conscience to receive treatment that recognizes their status. Biram Dah Abeid is an internationally known human rights activist who has received honors and awards from around the world. Their treatment is currently worse that the treatment given to violent criminals or terrorists.
IRA in Mauritania is demonstrating on the streets in solidarity with the prisoners in Aleg.
INITIATIVE DE RESURGENCE DU MOUVEMENT ABOLITIONNISTE EN MAURITANIE
Déclaration : Grève de faim des détenus d’opinion dans la prison d’Aleg
L’Initiative pour la Résurgence du Mouvement Abolitionniste IRA-Mauritanie, informe l’opinion nationale et internationale que ses dirigeants emprisonnés à Aleg, Biram Dah ABEID, Brahim Bilal RAMDANE et Djiby SOW, ont déclenché une grève de la faim, à partir de ce lundi 23. 02. 2015 dans la sinistre prison d’Aleg.
Cette grève de faim fait suite à lettre qu’ils avaient envoyé aux autorités le 12 février et qui a pour motif la protestation contre les mauvais traitements , les abus qu’ils subissent depuis leur arrivée à la prison d’Aleg et les conditions sordides dans lesquelles ils se trouvent, qui ne sont pas en conformité avec leurs statuts de militants chevronnés des droits de l’homme et dirigeants couronnés par les plus grandes organisations internationales des droits de l’homme. En solidarité avec ses détenus à la prison d’Aleg, IRA décide d’entreprendre et d’organiser une série de manifestions et d’intensifier ses activités pacifiques.
Nouakchott le 23 février 2015 La commission de communication
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