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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. Â 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. Â 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. Â 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 Â EN MAURITANIE
DĂ©claration : GrĂšve de faim des dĂ©tenus dâopinion dans la prison dâAleg
L’Initiative pour la RĂ©surgence du Mouvement Abolitionniste IRA-Mauritanie, informe lâopinion nationale et internationale que ses dirigeants emprisonnĂ©s Ă Aleg, Biram Dah ABEID, Brahim Bilal RAMDANE et Djiby SOW, ont dĂ©clenchĂ© une grĂšve de la faim, Ă partir de ce lundi 23. 02. 2015 dans la sinistre prison dâAleg.
Cette grĂšve de faim fait suite Ă lettre quâils avaient envoyĂ© aux autoritĂ©s le 12 fĂ©vrier et qui a pour motif la protestation contre les mauvais traitements , les abus quâils subissent depuis leur arrivĂ©e Ă la prison dâAleg et les conditions sordides dans lesquelles ils se trouvent, qui ne sont pas en conformitĂ© avec leurs statuts de militants chevronnĂ©s des droits de lâhomme et dirigeants couronnĂ©s par les plus grandes organisations internationales des droits de l’homme. En solidaritĂ© avec ses dĂ©tenus Ă la prison dâAleg, IRA dĂ©cide dâentreprendre et dâorganiser une sĂ©rie de manifestions et dâintensifier ses activitĂ©s pacifiques.
Nouakchott le 23 février 2015 La commission de communication
Mauritania must immediately release jailed anti-slavery activists and human rights defenders
Joint Public Statement: AFR 38/001/2015
On 15 January 2015, the court of Rosso, a town in southern Mauritania, sentenced three anti-slavery activists and human rights defenders to two years in prison for belonging to and managing an unrecognised organisation, participation in an unauthorised assembly and offenses against the forces of law and order.
Brahim Bilal Ramdane, Djiby Sow and Biram Dah Abeid, a former presidential candidate and President of the anti-slavery organisation, Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement in Mauritania (IRA), were arrested on 11 November 2014 whilst leading a peaceful campaign against slavery and raising awareness amongst the local population about the land rights of people of slave descent.
The practice of slavery persists in Mauritania. Organisations, such as SOS-Esclaves and IRA, regularly condemn cases of slavery. In addition, many people of slave descent continue to work on lands to which they have been given no rights and so are forced to give part of their crops to their would-be traditional masters.
Slavery was officially abolished in Mauritania in 1981 and this practice has been recognized as a crime under national law since 2007. The International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Mauritania is a state party, also proscribes slavery. Even though, since 2010 at least 32 cases of slavery have been brought to the Public Prosecutor, most investigations are subject to long delays. In 2011, the only slave-owner ever prosecuted for the criminal offence of âslavery-like practices against a minorâ, received a two-year prison sentence. After only a few months in prison, the convicted person was then granted provisional release pending the appeal hearing. This appeal has still not been held and he remains at liberty to this day.
The Mauritanian authorities often restrict the freedom of expression of human rights defenders and organisations that are campaigning against slavery. Yet, article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Mauritania is a state party, protects freedom of expression, which includes the “freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds.” The sentencing of these human rights defenders for awareness-raising activities about land slavery also goes against the commitments made by this government in its roadmap for the fight against the legacy of slavery adopted in March 2014, in particular, the promise to “create the conditions for equal access to land.”
The signatory organisations believe that Brahim Bilal Ramdane, Djiby Sow and Biram Dah Abeid are prisoners of conscience, detained solely because of their peaceful activities aiming to combat slavery.
We call upon the Mauritanian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release these convicted anti-slavery human rights defenders who are being arbitrarily detained in violation of national Mauritanian law and the international instruments ratified by Mauritania.
LIST OF SIGNATORY ORGANISATIONSÂ :
Action des ChrĂ©tiens pour lâabolition de la Torture (ACATBF) â Burkina Faso ; Action des ChrĂ©tiens pour lâabolition de la Torture (ACAT) â France ; Africtivistesâ Senegal ; Agir Ensemble pour les Droits de lâHomme â France ; Association des Femmes Chefs de Famille- Mauritania ; Association Mauritanienne Droits de lâHomme â Mauritania ; Association SEMFILMS- Burkina Faso ; Association des victimes de la torture au Togo- Togo ; Amnesty International ; Anti Slavery International- Great Britain ; Balai Citoyen- Burkina Faso ; Centre dâinformation et de formation en matiĂšre des droits humains en Afrique ; ComitĂ© National pour la MĂ©moire et l’Histoire de l’Esclavage- France ; ComitĂ© de SolidaritĂ© avec les Victimes des Violations des Droits Humains â Mauritania ; Forum des Organisations Nationales des Droits de lâHomme en Mauritanie – Mauritania ; Free the Slaves- USA ; Front Line Defenders â Ireland ; Human Rights defender, Writer and academic ; IRA â Mauritania ; IRA â USA ; Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa- Gambia ; International Trade Union Confederation ; Ligue pour la DĂ©fense de la Justice et de la LibertĂ© â Burkina Faso ; Minority Rights Group International- Great Britain ; Mouvement burkinabĂš des droits humains et des peoples â Burkina Faso ; Mouvement Y en a marre- SĂ©nĂ©gal ; Quilliam Foundation- Great Britain ; Rencontre Africaine pour la DĂ©fense des Droits de l’Homme â Senegal ; SOS-Esclaves- Mauritania ; Society for Threatened Peoples- Germany ; The Abolition Institute â USA ; The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization Walk Free- The Hague
La Mauritanie doit libérer immédiatement les militants anti-esclavagistes et défenseurs des droits humains condamnés
Déclaration Publique : AFR 38/001/2015
Le 15 janvier 2015, le tribunal de la ville de Rosso, dans le sud de la Mauritanie, a condamnĂ© Ă deux ans de prison trois militants anti-esclavagistes et dĂ©fenseurs des droits humains pour appartenance et administration dâune organisation non reconnue, participation Ă un rassemblement non autorisĂ© et offense Ă la force publique.
Brahim Bilal Ramdane, Djiby Sow et Biram Dah Abeid ancien candidat Ă la prĂ©sidence de la rĂ©publique et prĂ©sident de lâorganisation anti-esclavagiste Initiative pour la rĂ©surgence du mouvement abolitionniste en Mauritanie (IRA) ont Ă©tĂ© arrĂȘtĂ©s le 11 novembre 2014 alors quâils menaient une campagne pacifique contre la pratique de lâesclavage et sensibilisaient la population au sujet du droit Ă la terre des descendants dâesclaves.
La pratique de lâesclavage se perpĂ©tue en Mauritanie. Des organisations dont SOS Esclaves et lâIRA dĂ©noncent rĂ©guliĂšrement des cas d’esclavage. De plus, beaucoup de descendants dâesclaves continuent de travailler sur des terres sans aucun droit et sont contraints de donner une partie de leurs rĂ©coltes Ă leurs maĂźtres traditionnels.
L’esclavage a Ă©tĂ© officiellement aboli en Mauritanie en 1981, et depuis 2007, sa pratique est reconnue comme un crime par le droit national. Le Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques (PIDCP), auquel la Mauritanie est partie, proscrit lâesclavage Ă©galement. Cependant, depuis 2010, au moins 32 cas d’esclavage ont Ă©tĂ© prĂ©sentĂ©s au procureur, mais la plupart sont soumis Ă de longs dĂ©lais. En 2011, le seul propriĂ©taire dâesclave poursuivi en justice pour crime de pratiques esclavagistes sur un mineur a Ă©tĂ© condamnĂ© Ă deux ans de prison. AprĂšs seulement quelques mois en prison, lâinculpĂ© a bĂ©nĂ©ficiĂ© de la libertĂ© provisoire en attendant le procĂšs en appel, mais cet appel nâa jamais eu lieu et il reste en libertĂ© Ă ce jour.
Les autoritĂ©s mauritaniennes restreignent frĂ©quemment la libertĂ© d’expression des dĂ©fenseurs de droits humains et de ces organisations de dĂ©fense des droits humains qui mĂšnent campagne contre cette pratique. Pourtant, l’article 19 du Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques, auquel la Mauritanie est partie, protĂšge la libertĂ© d’expression, qui englobe la « libertĂ© de rechercher, de recevoir et de rĂ©pandre des informations et des idĂ©es de toute espĂšce ». La condamnation des dĂ©fenseurs de droits humains pour les activitĂ©s de sensibilisation au sujet de lâesclavage foncier va Ă©galement Ă lâencontre des engagements du gouvernement dans sa feuille de route pour la lutte contre les sĂ©quelles de lâesclavage, adoptĂ©e en mars 2014, notamment de « crĂ©er les conditions favorables Ă lâĂ©gal accĂšs Ă la propriĂ©tĂ© fonciĂšre ».
Les organisations signataires estiment que Brahim Bilal Ramdane, Djiby Sow et Biram Dah Abeid sont des prisonniers d’opinion, dĂ©tenus uniquement en raison de leurs activitĂ©s pacifiques visant Ă lutter contre l’esclavage.
Nous demandons aux autorités mauritaniennes de libérer immédiatement et sans condition les défenseurs de droits humains anti-esclavagistes condamnés et détenus arbitrairement en violation des lois mauritaniennes et des instruments internationaux ratifiés par la Mauritanie.
LISTE DES ORGANISATIONS SIGNATAIRESÂ :
Action des ChrĂ©tiens pour lâabolition de la Torture (ACATBF) â Burkina Faso ; Action des ChrĂ©tiens pour lâabolition de la Torture (ACAT) â France ; Africtivistesâ SĂ©nĂ©gal ; Agir Ensemble pour les Droits de lâHomme â France ; Association des Femmes Chefs de Famille- Mauritanie ; Association Mauritanienne Droits de lâHomme â Mauritanie ; Association SEMFILMS- Burkina Faso ; Association des victimes de la torture au Togo- Togo ; Amnesty International ; Anti Slavery International- Royaume Uni ; Balai Citoyen- Burkina Faso ; Centre dâinformation et de formation en matiĂšre des droits humains en Afrique ; ComitĂ© National pour la MĂ©moire et l’Histoire de l’Esclavage- France ; ComitĂ© de SolidaritĂ© avec les Victimes des Violations des Droits Humains â Mauritanie ; Forum des Organisations Nationales des Droits de lâHomme en Mauritanie – Mauritanie ; Free the Slaves- Ătats-Unis  ; Front Line Defenders â Irlande ; Human Rights defender, Writer and academic ; IRA â Mauritanie ; IRA â Ătats-Unis ; Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa- Gambie ; International Trade Union Confederation ; Ligue pour la DĂ©fense de la Justice et de la LibertĂ© â Burkina Faso ; Minority Rights Group International- Royaume Uni ; Mouvement burkinabĂš des droits humains et des peoples â Burkina Faso ; Mouvement Y en a Marre- SĂ©nĂ©gal ; Quilliam Foundation- Royaume Uni ; Rencontre Africaine pour la DĂ©fense des Droits de l’Homme â SĂ©nĂ©gal ; SOS-Esclaves- Mauritanie ; Society for Threatened Peoples- Allemagne ; The Abolition Institute âĂtats-Unis ; The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization Walk Free- La Haye
THE NEW SONG by SOLDIER HEMSÂ is sure to be the anthem of the Mauritanian anti-slavery movement.
Biram Dah Abeid, Brahim Bilal Ramdhane and Djiby Sow were senteced, in Rosso on January 15, 2014, to two years in prison.
Directly after their sentencing, the three anti-slavery activists were transferred to the prison in Aleg. They are confined in maximum security conditions. Currently they are only allowed to see close relatives two times per week. They are confined to their cell 23 hours each day, and are not allowed any telephone, email or writing implements. The harsh conditions of their imprisonment far exceed any punishment ever meted out to a slave owner in Mauritania.
The prison sentence is subject to appeal, but the prisoners were denied bail while the appeal is pending. Meanwhile, the judge in Rosso refuses to send the necessary paperwork to Nouakchott. There is no apparent reason for this delay, and the only possible reason is a deliberate action to delay the appeals process.
Rosso, Mauritania:
Biram Dah Abeid in court today denied assaulting Islam and national unity. Â Biram was the only defendant to testify in the session that started at three in the afternoon and lasted until six. Mr. Abeid rejected all the charges against himself and his fellow members of IRA – Mauritanie, including charges of belonging to an illegal organization, unauthorized assembly, disturbing public order, and assault on Islam and on national unity.
These charges carry penalties ranging from six months to five years in prison.
The courtroom was crowded with about a dozen lawyers for the defense of the IRA members, and observers from civil society.
Crowds outside chanted “free them, free them”.
In his testimony Mr. Abeid pointed out the the IRA members had been targeted for arrest, and he explained this arose from the government’s fear of the growing movement among the Haratine for their own empowerment.
The political maneuverings surrounding these hearings is intense. After the very strong denunciation by the European Union Parliament of Mr. Abeid’s arrest, the Mauritanian parliament responded with a declaration that Europe should stay out of Mauritanian internal affairs. This categorical rejection of the EU defense of human rights and anti-slavery activists was seconded by a youth organization’s call for non-interference in Mauritanian affairs.
The U.S. embassy declared that it was following the trial closely and expects a just, transparent, and truthful verdict. Unfortunately, recent events in the United States regarding police violence are reflected in the published responses to this call for the rule of law.
As the trial of anti-slavery activists proceeds, we need to keep in mind that human rights and the rule of law are the property of no individual nation. Human rights law is above nationalism, it is above sectarianism, and it is above particular historical contingencies or aberrations. The failure to respect human rights in any particular situation does not weaken the existence of these legal principles. The failure to respect human rights — whether by unjust imprisonment, by extra-judicial killings, by massive disenfranchisement, by enslavement, or by torture — does not invalidate the law of human rights . Rather such failures remind us of the vital importance of this law.
Human rights law represent the ideal of governance that serves the people, all the people, and not just the enrichment of the ruling class.
Bad governments will come and go, but human rights will endure.
We look forward to the vindication fo the rights of the anti-slavery activists, and to the eventual trial and imprisonment of Mauritanian slave owners, as well as other human rights offenders around the globe.
The historic trials of December 24, 2014 have produced one death sentence and allegations of prisoner abuse.
The first day of the trial in Rosso Mauritania of the IRA – Mauritanie members, including Biram Dah Abeid and the other leaders of IRA, was preceded by a night of terror, sleeplessness and deprivation of food and water.
Meanwhile, in the north of Mauritania, in the industrial port city of Nouadibou, a young man accused last winter of apostasy received a death sentence for charges of apostasy. Â The case of Ould Mkhaitir received press coverage in the May 2014 issue of Jadalyiaa. Â Ould Mkhaitir faced his December 23 hearing with no lawyer to defend him. His original lawyer, Maitre Icheddou, resigned from the case after receiving death threats to himself and his family. For a time he had state appointed attorneys, but similar threats distanced these lawyers from the case.
Mauritania has not enforced the death penalty since the early 1980s.
If Ould Mkhaitir faced his trial without a lawyer, the IRA members faced  their court proceedings that afternoon exhausted, famished, and in the case of Cheikh Vall, with a face bruised from a soldier’s beating.  According to first-hand reports, Tuesday night, December 22, 2014, at precisely 10:30 p.m., a squad of 30 soldiers led by a lieutenant burst into the prison. Pulling all of the prisoners from their sleep, the soldiers forced everyone out of their cells with all their belongings. The prisoners convicted of criminal offenses were stripped naked and forced to lie face down on the ground while the soldiers thoroughly searched their belongings. This lasted until 3:30 in the morning. All prisoners, including the IRA members detained as political prisoners, were forced to stay out doors in the cold during these hours.
In the prison courtyard, which is about 150 square meters, the IRA members were able to move around, but the other prisoners were violently beaten under the orders of the lieutenant. Humiliating and violent treatment was inflicted on them. Some of them bear physical traces of this violence on their bodies and faces. One of the members of IRA – Mauritanie, Cheikh Vall, was hit in the mouth by the Lieutenant.
Throughout the night no one could sleep because after the soldiers had finished their search and beatings, and allowed the political prisoners back into their cells, they started a fire in one of the cells of the criminal prisoners.
In the morning the soldiers refused to allow any water, breakfast, or tea to be brought to any prisoner. Thus, the IRA defendants arrived at the courthouse at 2 in the afternoon, deprived of sleep, water, and food. The soldiers maintain that they are acting under orders.
The European Parliament  issued the following resolution demanding the liberation of Biram Dah Abeid and his colleagues. The European counter-parts to IRA- Mauritanie along with UNPO and other non-profits worked together to generate this declaration.  You can listen to the members of the EU parliament speak on this urgent resolution here (in French).
Plenary sitting
16.12.2014
JOINT
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Mauritania, in particular the case of Biram Dah Abeid
on behalf of the EPP Group
on behalf of the S&D Group
on behalf of the ECR Group
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on behalf of the GREEN Group
on behalf of the GUE Group
on behalf of the EFDD Group
Mauritania, in particular the case of Biram Dah Abeid
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Mauritania, including those of June 14, 2012 on security and Human Rights in the Sahel region, and that of October 22, 2013 on Human Rights in the Sahel region,
– having regard to Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on implementation of the EU Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel of 17 March 2014,
– having regard to the Statement by the EU HRVP Spokesperson on the presidential elections in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania of 25 June 2014;
– having regard to Article 1 of the Mauritanian Constitution which âguarantees equality before the law to all of its citizens without distinction as to origin, race, sex, or social conditionâ,
– having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoplesâ Rights that Mauritania ratified in 1986 which expressly prohibits slavery in Article 5 and to Mauritania’s adherence to international instruments which prohibit contemporary forms of slavery, namely the Slavery Convention of 1926 and the Protocol amending the Slavery Convention; the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery of 1956;
– having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (“the Cotonou agreement”);
– having regard to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Concluding observations on Mauritania, 24 July 2014
– having regards to ILO Convention 105 on forced labour,
– having regard to Rule 135of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Biram Dah Abeidâs, the son of freed-slaves, is engaged in an advocacy campaign to eradicate slavery; whereas in 2008, he founded the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement; whereas this organization seeks to draw attention to the issue and to help take specific cases before courts of law; whereas Biram Dah Abeid was awarded the United Nations Human Rights Prize for 2013;
B. whereas on 11 November 2014, Biram Dah Abeid, a leading Mauritanian anti-slavery activist and founder of the abolitionist organization IRA (Initiative pour la Resurgence du Mouvement Abolitioniste), was arrested following a peaceful anti- slavery march; Mr Abeid has been charged with calling for a demonstration, participation in a demonstration and belonging to an illegal organisation and some reports suggest that he is at risk of facing the death penalty; whereas the death penalty is still provided for in the Criminal Code and it is not restricted to the most serious crimes and is imposed following convictions based on confessions obtained under torture
C. Whereas other anti-slavery campaigners have also been arrested and detained bringing the total number of imprisoned IRA-Mauritania activists to 17; it is alleged that during the arrests the Mauritanian gendarmerie used excessive force including beatings with batons, physical dragging along the floor and humiliation techniques including making detainees strip naked; there are also allegations of prison guards attempting to coerce some of the activists into signing confessions
D. whereas Mr Abeid was voted as runner-up in the 2014 Mauritanian presidential elections this year; his reputation has made him a prime target for the Mauritanian authorities; whereas his arrest, and those of his colleagues, thus represents a crackdown on political opposition as well as civil society;
E. Whereas although officially abolished in 1981 and criminalized in 2007, the practice of slavery persists in Mauritania; whereas according to the Global Slavery Index 2014, Mauritania is the biggest offender, with the highest proportion of its population enslaved up to 4 per cent whereas some figures estimate the prevalence of slavery at up to 20%; whereas the recent Slavery Act does not cover all forms of slavery in Mauritania for example, any form of serfdom;
F. whereas slavery in Mauritania is explicitly racialized, with slaves almost universally drawn from the (black) Haratin community, which comprises between 40-60% of the Mauritanian population, as well as other communities as acknowledged by the Special Rapporteur for Slavery; whereas the Haratin, even those not in slavery, are frequently denied access to higher-status work or prominent positions in public life
G. whereas slavery is usually hereditary, and babies born to enslaved women are frequently considered the property of a masterâs family for their whole lives; whereas female slaves are routinely subjected to sexual violence; whereas most slaves are denied a formal education and are taught that their destiny is to belong to their masters, thus perpetuating so-called psychological slavery; whereas women slaves require their mastersâ permission to marry; whereas many slaves are born as the product of rape; whereas even slaves who have been released have few opportunities to find meaningful employment;
H. whereas Mauritania has ratified conventions such as the Universal Declaration of `Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement;
Strongly condemns the arrest and ongoing detention of anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid and his fellow campaigners, and calls for their immediate release; expresses concern about reports of the violence used against some of the activists, and urges the Mauritanian authorities to prosecute those officials who have been involved in the abuse and torture of prisoners;
Calls upon the Mauritanian Government to stop using violence against civilians participating in peaceful public protests and media campaigns in support of Mr Biram Dah Abeid; to cease its crackdown on civil society and political opposition, and to permit anti-slavery activists to pursue their non-violent work without fear of harassment and intimidation; urges the Mauritanian authorities to allow freedom of speech and assembly, in accordance with international conventions and its own domestic law;
Strongly condemns all forms of slavery; specifically the reported high prevalence of slavery, slavery related practice and the trafficking of human beings within Mauritania; welcomes the Government’s criminalisation of slavery, the existence of a Special Court for slavery and the Government’s announcement in March 2014 to introduce a road-map to the abolition of slavery; strongly encourages the Mauritanian authorities to help change social attitudes about race and slavery, particularly regarding the Haratin population; stresses that discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, especially in the realms of education and employment, should be outlawed;
Regrets that there has only been one prosecution for slavery; calls on the Mauritanian government to end all forms of slavery; to enact anti-slavery; and to pass legislation aimed at amending or repealing discriminatory legislation, including the discriminatory provisions of its penal, personal status and nationality codes; stresses that allegations of slavery and slavery-like practices should be effectively investigated and prosecuted
Calls on the Mauritarian authorities to raise awareness, peoplesâ attitudes and beliefs towards slavery at all levels of society;
Urges development of universal formal education, so that current and former slaves, as well as their children, can improve their literacy and become equipped with the tools to find meaningful employment; notes that all Mauritanian citizens should be entitled to own land, particularly when they have occupied and cultivated it for generations, which Biram Dah Abeid and IRA-Mauritania propose as the key means to end the cycle of slavery; encourages the Mauritanian Government, in this regard, to ratify the ILO Convention 169, which recognises the forms of land use for indigenous peoples;
Underlines the importance of a fruitful relationship between the EU and Mauritania with the aim of contributing to democracy, stability and development in Mauritania; stresses that Mauritania is a significant partner in the EU Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel;
Urges the Vice President/High Representative, EEAS and Member States to increase their efforts to address slavery in Mauritania, specifically by ensuring a clear and workable foreign affairs and human rights policy in line with the EU Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy, and by promoting a human rights dimension as part of the EU Sahel Strategy, and in dialogues with the Mauritanian Government, including formal bilateral agreements;
9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the Mauritanian authorities, the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the UN Human Rights Council, the Economic Community of West African States, the Arab League and the African Union.
AprĂšs Foreign Policy et Jeune Afrique, l’Obs consacre son « Grands formats » Ă Biram
Dans son Ă©dition n° 2613 du 4 au 10 dĂ©cembre 2014, le grand hebdomadaire parisien, « L’Obs » (anciennement “Le Nouvel Observateur”), consacre six pages de sa rubrique « Grands formats » au prĂ©sident de lâInitiative pour la RĂ©surgence du mouvement Abolitionniste (IRA), laurĂ©at du Prix de lâONU 2013 pour les Droits de lâhomme, Biram Dah Abeid, qui croupit, avec une dizaine de ses camarades, dans la sinistre prison de Rosso (au Sud de la Mauritanie) depuis le 11 novembre. « Le Spartacus mauritanien », comme le dĂ©signe Jean-Baptiste Naudet, « veut faire libĂ©rer tous les esclaves de son pays, au prix de sa propre liberté ».
Ce « Grands Formats » de l’Obs vient complĂ©ter la sĂ©rie de distinctions et de classements prestigieux dans lesquels le nom de Biram a brillĂ© au grand dĂ©sespoir des esclavagistes et autres racistes mauritaniens. Ce fut le cas quand le grand journal amĂ©ricain « Foreign Policy» [http://globalthinkers.foreignpolicy.com/#advocates/list] avait classĂ© le militant antiesclavagiste parmi les 100 personnalitĂ©s les plus marquantes de lâannĂ©e 2014. Les esclavagistes mauritaniens ont dĂ» sâĂ©trangler quand ils dĂ©couvrirent, une semaine plus tard, que « Jeune Afrique », lâhebdomadaire parisien tournĂ© vers lâAfrique, le classa parmi sa « sĂ©lection des dĂ©fenseurs africains des Droits de l’homme en 2014 » [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAWEB20141204185817/].
Biram Dah Abeid, son adjoint Brahim Ramdane Bilal et de nombreux autres militants antiesclavagistes ont Ă©tĂ© arbitrairement arrĂȘtĂ©s et sĂ©questrĂ©s alors quâils participaient Ă une caravane pacifique pour lâabolition de lâesclavage foncier dont souffrent les paysans mauritaniens dont la trĂšs grande majoritĂ© sont des Hratine. Ils ont Ă©tĂ© inculpĂ©s et Ă©crouĂ©s Ă Rosso et Ă Nouakchott. Aujourdâhui, les enquĂȘtes sont bouclĂ©es mais les autoritĂ©s mauritaniennes ne semblent pas pressĂ©es dâouvrir leur procĂšs. Le juge dâinstruction chargĂ© de leur dossier ne travaille quâun jour par semaine et le Procureur de Rosso sâest mis en congĂ© de longue maladie sans quâaucun remplaçant ne soit nommĂ© Ă sa place. En attendant, les militants des Droits de lâhomme sont entassĂ©s dans des cellules exiguĂ«s et livrĂ©s Ă un rĂ©gime de strict enferment de 18 heures Ă 8 heures du matin.
De nombreux partis politiques et organisations de dĂ©fense des Droits de lâhomme mauritaniens ont exprimĂ© leur solidaritĂ© et leur soutien aux dĂ©tenus dâIRA. Ce soutien vient sâajouter Ă la grande mobilisation de lâopinion publique et des organismes internationaux que la persistance de lâesclavage en Mauritanie et le dĂ©ni que lui oppose le rĂ©gime de Ould Abdel Aziz ont profondĂ©ment scandalisĂ©s.
Pour aider Ă libĂ©rer Biram et ses codĂ©tenus, signer et faites signer la pĂ©tition « LibĂ©rez Biram Dah ABEID, prix 2013 des droits de lâhomme de lâONU » [https://secure.avaaz.org/fr/petition/Le_gouvernement_mauritanien_Liberez_Biram_Dah_ABEID_prix_2013_des_droits_de_lhomme_de_lONU/edit/].
      
Today we received a letter from Biram Dah Abeid sent by him from the jail in Rosso Mauritania.  Biram and his colleagues from IRA face charges of  incitement to violence, troubling public order, outrage of the public authority, membership in a non-recognized organization.
Here is the letter, in French and English:
Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement in Mauritania (IRA) and the related party Radical for Global Action (RAG). The Stateâs refusal to allow us into the fold of legality feeds a multitude of informers and delators and allows, at the various levels of the security apparatus, to covertly ensure, in the shadows, a level of expenses that scrupulouslymatches their private interests. The ban on IRA and RAG legitimizes an enormous amount of embezzlement and opens the country to tensions at times irreversible.
Ainsi, moi Birame Dah Abeid, militant Ă©pris de la vĂ©ritĂ© et des lois universelles de l’Habeas Corpus, avec le souvenir constant de mes compatriotes rescapĂ©s de la torture ou victimes du meurtre extrajudiciaire, revendique mon droit, notre droit Ă comparaĂźtre devant la justice des hommes. Nous ne sortirons de prison qu’aprĂšs la rĂ©alisation de ce prĂ©alable, Ă moins de nous faire expulser; le cas Ă©chĂ©ant, nous reviendrons y reprendre notre place d’opprimĂ©s en lutte.
Thus, I, Biram Dah Abeid, a militant with unshakeable belief in truth and the universal laws of Habeas Corpus, living in constant remembrance of my compatriots, who survived torture or fell victims to extrajudicial assassinations, hereby claim my right, our right to appear before the justice of men. We will leave prison when and only when this has been realized, unless we are expelled, in which case we will return and re-assume our position as oppressed people waging a struggle.
Je prie mes avocats de bien vouloir publier la présente déclaration, par tous moyens de presse et en mon nom.
I kindly ask my lawyers to please publish this statement in any and all press media, and in my name.
Prison civile de Rosso, le 8 Decembre 2014
UP-DATE: ROSSO, MAURITANIA Imprisonment and Trial of Biram Dah Abeid and Colleagues
November 24, 2014
Alice Bullard, CEO IRA – USA
Washington DC
I. Next Hearing in Rosso scheduled for November 25, 2014 (note: hearing dates are subject to change by authorities)
Samba Diagana, Abidine Matalla, Hassane Mahmoud et Mohamed Yacoub will be brought before the judge dâinstruction
[Hearings for those detained in Nouakchott will begin as of the 24th of November].
II. NEW ARREST: Yacoub Moussa was arrested Sunday, November 23, 2014, in Nouakchott during a spontaneous demonstration against the arrests of human rights defenders. The location of his imprisonment is unknown.
III. Hearing on November 20, 2014:
IRA members organized a sit-in in front of the courthouse in Rosso in anticipation of the hearing for those having a hearing â Biram Dah ABEID, Brahim Bilal RAMDHANE, Cheikh VALL and Khattri RAHEL. These IRA members held forth on the philosophy of IRA – Mauritanie to the judge dâinstruction.
On this day those imprisoned were able to see their lawyers and to tell of how they have been tortured with insults, chaining, and other humiliations they have suffered in the place of their detention. Some of them indicated that it was the Director of Security of Rosso (directeur de la suretĂ©) who gave the order to âmĂąterâ [seems to mean ârapeâ] and torture the prisoners.
The four prisoners unanimously deplored the conditions of imprisonment and called for an immediate change of conditions. There are no mosquitoe nets, and the prisoners are shut into tiny cells without any windows for fourteen hours at a stretch.
Biramâs testimony at the Friday Nov. 20 hearing addressed the struggle of IRA against inequality under the law and how religion has been used to sustain inequality under the law. The lawyer for IRA, Maitre Deihy, reported to Hamady Lehbouss that the judge dâinstruction was profoundly troubled by the responses given by Biram Dah Abeid; he could not contain his tears and wept openly in the midst of the hearing.
âAccording to a report in Almushahid, Biram Dah Abeid gave a highly religious speech before the judge dâinstruction, focused on the fate of just and unjust judges in Islam. The judge, Biram said, is responsible before God for the judgement that he renders. Neither President Ould Abdel Azziz, nor the Minister of Justice, nor any other person can protect him from the true judgement, that of God, on that day only his good actions will aid him.
The judge was visibly influenced by this religious discourse and showed some hesitation before, finally giving into the pressure from the authorities and deciding to send Biram and his three companions back to prison to await the testimony of the four other prisoners in the next days.
We have learned, as well, of the heart attack suffered by the Procureur de la RĂ©publique du Trarza. He was admitted to the emergency room of the Rosso hospital for two days afterwhich his deteriorating condition necessitated his transfer to the capital, Nouakchott.â
(Lien sur Moushahid: http://mushahide.com/index.php/newssection/5363-2014-11-23-10-44-33.html)
Current Charges against those in Rosso
Charges currently pending are reportedly incitement to violence, troubling public order, outrage of the public authority, membership in a non-recognized organization.
IV. Controversy over the UNHCR visit & conditions of detention
The members of IRA imprisoned in Rosso are shut into tiny cells without any windows or other means of ventilation. Lack of air has caused some to faint, and has caused others to experience severe respiratory distress.
There is no protection in these dank, humid cells against the mosquitoes, creating conditions almost certain to lead to infection with malaria or Yellow Fever.
Those imprisoned have also been stripped, beaten and physically violated.
A representative of the UNHCR, Mrs. Mehret Berhane, and an attorney âcharge de missionâ Cheikh Abdallahi OULD AHMED BABOU visited Mr. Abeid at the prison in Rosso (the âprison civilâ). This visit took place under the auspices of the Office of the HIgh Commission of Human Rights in Nouakchott. The goal of the visit was to inquire about the conditions of the incarceration of IRA members imprisoned in Rosso since November 11, 2014.
Their conversation, in which Abeid described the conditions of their current imprisonment as execrable, while their detainment prior to their first hearing was relatively humane, was surrepticously audio-taped. This recording was later conveyed to television reporters. At some point between the recording and the numerous airings of this recording, the tape was edited making it appear that Mr. Abeid and his imprisoned colleagues have no complaints about the conditions of their current imprisonment.
IRA – Mauritanie Press release: âAt the end of the visit the visitors took their leave, with the promise to continue to follow this issue and to report regularly to the hierarchy at the UN HCHR.
âImagine the surprise of the public, when a local television station announced in its news cast that same evening that âthe conditions of the detention of IRA members in Rosso are good.â ; as proof, following the announcement an astonishingly short short audio clip was played in which the President of IRA – Mauritanie evoked a decent treatment. This news was then rebroadcast by other media.
âHere it is appropriate to enlighten public opinion, which has been misled by the televised broadcast whose delinquent character implicates, de facto, the responsable parties at the Office of the High Commisson on Human Rights of the United Nations in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
In effect, among other questions, the visitors asked President Biram Dah Abeid to speak about the situation of his comrades and himself, since their arrests. In response, he explained at the level of the Gendarmerie where they were first detained, he with three other comrades, there was very correct treatment with no assault on their dignity. After that he launched into an expose of the severe bad treatment they have endured in the Rosso prison, which he characterized as torture. In the interview on November 20, with the on-line newspaper Almushahid, Biram detailed the cramped space, the sleeplessness, the forced standing for hours on end. He explained, as well, the death threats against him by the Directeur GgĂ©nĂ©ral de la sĂ»retĂ© de lâEtat (General Director for State Security), who is a presumed recidivist torturer, notorious since the purges of 1990-1991 (link to Almushahid interview; cliquer ici )
On the television Alwataniya only the first part of Biramâs description was broadcast, making it seem in that what that Biram is mostly content with the conditions. It frequently happens that international functionaries let themselves be taken and used, often with full knowledge of this, by the Mauritanian authorities. These authorities, since the days of the dictator Colonel Oul Taya, have acquired a certain expertise in handling foreigners sent on missions to Mauritania. They know how to pressure, to blackmail, and to change their opinions either blatant gifts to gain favor, or by exploiting their weaknesses.
In addition to the secret recording of the conversation, the manipulation of the tape in order to deceive the public constitutes a crime for which Mrs. Mehret and Attorney Cheikh Abdallahi OUld Ahmed Babou, both of them acting under the authority of the High Commissioner of Human Rights of the United Nations in Mauritania, are the most responsable. The acted deliberately, that is to say with full understanding of the substance of the fight that opposes IRA to conservative segments of the society and the state, from which flow risks to the integrity of the secular anti-slavery activists.
The two visitors took the initiative to record their discussion without Biramâs knowledge; they manipulated or let others manipulate the recording; these two levels of grave abuse of authority, within the very tense context of Biram and his colleagues languishing in cells because of their peaceful actions against racism, against fanaticism, against agrarian servitude and the dispossession of the peasants, demands an explanation from the High Commissioner of Human Rights of the United Nations.
In the name of the universal struggle that inspires us and that forms the legitimate basis of the UN HCHR, for the prisoners and their family, and for the integrity of the agencies and organizations of the UN, we await a moment of truth.â (at http://www.iramauritanie.org/2014/11/des-responsables-du-bureau-du-haut-commissariat-aux-droits-de-lhomme-de-lonu-a-nouakchott-mauritanie-auteurs-de-fraude-et-de-tripatouillage-audio-contre-un-detenu/ )
V. Human Rights Defenders, Terrorism and Imams: Some Imams have used their religious office to denounce human rights activists Biram Dah Abeid and Fatimentou Mint ⊠Women Heads of Families.
This is a translation of the IRA summary of the interview aired on Alwataniya TV (
http://biramdahabeid.org/recurrence-des-appels-a-la-haine-religieuse-et-connivence-de-letat-en-mauritanie/ ).
The respons of the jihadist to the question, âif you became president of the country and of the Islamic nation, what would you do with the following people⊠First, Biram Dah Abeid
Response, first of all, it is not good to speak of Satan, but since you wish, I will respond by saying I would invite in order to ask him to stop dividing the Islamic nation, the nation of Mauritania, ask that he abandon the anti-Islamic discourse, the anti-Imam discourse, which divides Mauritanians between Beydanes (White Moors) and Haratine, and if he continued, I would subject him to an extreme punishment, and extreme punishment is liquidation, it is unalterable death.
Second, the activist Mrs. Aminetou Mint Moctar. She would have the same end, her end will be death, total liquidation.
Third, the activist Mrs. Makfoula Mint Brahim, the same thing, the liquidation for all of these apostates, these unfaithful and non-believers, these Kafirs (slaves)
Fourth: the teachers of philosophy: of them I would ask that they stop teaching this material, and I would prohibit them from working.
Here is a direct link to the portion of the video with the Jihadist advocating âliquidationâ of human rights defenders
: http://www.bellewarmedia.com/14072.html
and, a link to the complete video:Â http://www.bellewarmedia.com/14082.html
This type of denunciation of human rights defenders is given greater context by the following IRA report republishing news from the UAE:
âA recent report by United Arab Emirates has four Mauritanian Imams on its list of terrorists. Those listed are:
âMr Cheikh Mohamed Moktar Ould Emballa, Chief of the Supreme Council of the Fatwa in Nouakchott, member of the Union of the Muslim Oulemas, and member of the Peace Forum for Muslim Communities, very close to the Emirate State;
the president of the Elvadhila political party, Mr Othmane Cheihk Abul-Maali, a former Mauritanian diplomat to Gulf countries, with on-going close relations with political and religious authorities in the Emirates.
Cheikh Mohammed Elhacen Ould Dedew, President of the Center for the Education of Imams, member of the Union of the Muslim Oulemas, and without a doubt the most influential of all among the Mauritanian Islamists.
According to the article, the United Arab Emirates have interdicted Mr. Dedew from entering their country for the past several years. ⊠(PersĂ©cutĂ© sous le pouvoir de lâex Chef de lâEtat Moawiya Ould Taya,, rĂ©putĂ© Ă©rudit, Ould Dedew est aussi un homme dâaffaires prospĂšre). Il entretient un large rĂ©seau dâassociations de bienfaisance dont le gouvernement mauritanien fermait, la plus importante, au dĂ©but du mois de mars 2014, suite Ă des troubles provoquĂ©s par une sĂ©rie de « fausses » profanations du Coran.
Cheikh Mohammed Hafedh Ould Enahwi, member of the Union of the Oulemas, a person of very high status with much wealth;
Cheikh Abdallahi Ould Ely Salem, former President of the Constitutional Council of Mauritania.
âAll of these people named here profit from status and respect in Mauritania and exercise great political, economic and religious influence. They often have access to the highest levels of the government.
âWith this listing of terrorist organizations, the United Arab Emirates have lifted the veil to reveal a great number of institutions and jihadist groups in the world, including the Union of the Oulemas. [IRA French version with link to the Arabic is available here: http://www.iramauritanie.org/2014/11/quatre-imams-mauritaniens-sur-la-liste-des-terroristes-publie-par-les-emirats-arabes-unis/ ]
VI. Notable Press Coverage:
The arrests in Rosso have made it into the mainstream press, sometimes in a story that also covers the recent release of the annual Global Slavery Index. Stories have run in numerous publications including the Economist, Foreign Policy, Reuters (and picked up by diverse news services such as Yahoo), VOA, British Muslim TV and Al-Jazeera Arabic.
LInks to stories:
Global Slavery Index: http://www.globalslaveryindexorg/
Economist:
http://www.economist.com/news/international/21633585-governments-and-lobbies-still-need-fight-end-modern-day-slavery-still-trapped
Foreign Policy: http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/11/19/it_s_2014_and_global_slavery_still_exists_on_a_huge_scale
Foreign Policy nominates BIram as a âthinker of the yearâ:Â http://globalthinkers.foreignpolicy.com/#advocates/list
British Muslim TV : https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1mgx3hWN365VkZwNkJSS1hMcjg/view – (at minute 12
Black Press USA: http://www.blackpressusa.com/2014/11/a-nation-where-slavery-still-thrives/#sthash.uIXlWDTk.RZPvkzEP.dpbs
Periodistas en espanol: http://periodistas-es.com/detenido-biram-dah-abeid-lider-abolicionista-en-mauritania-44312
RFI: http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20141119-mauritanie-deux-nouveaux-militants-anti-esclavagistes-devant-justice/
Repubblica: http://www.repubblica.it/solidarieta/diritti-umani/2014/11/23/news/mauritania-101217545/
 Please Contribute to the IRA – USA Legal Defense Fund
Mariem Cheikh, a high level officer of IRA – Mauritania was arrested today in Nouakchott. Â Mariem was at a demonstration organized to protest the previous arrests in Rosso and in Nouakchott. Â The demonstration, following IRA’s deep commitment to peaceful social change, was non-violent. Â Mariem was the only person arrested. First hand witnesses said it was not apparent why she was arrested and not anyone else.
Biram Dah Abeid was interviewed by cell phone by Voice of America, West Africa. The interview is in French, you can listen here. Â This interview was possible through nimble international coordination. Last night a sympathetic guard gave Biram his cell phone. When IRA – USA learned he had his phone we worked to get the number to a VOA journalist. It is possible that CNN might also have interviewed him.
If one guard demonstrated some sympathy to Biram, others imprisoned in Rosso have not been so lucky.  According the Hamady Lehbouss, violent torture has been reported regarding Samba Diagana, Abidine Matalla, Khatri Rahel, Cheikh Val and Hassane Mahmoud.
There is still no news about the whereabouts of  IRA-Mauritanie spokesman, Dr Saad Louleyd, who was arrested on 11 novembre 2014.
In Nouakchott on November 12th two other members of IRA were arrested, Chedad MOHAMED and Mohamed VADOUA.
November 11, 2014 IRA-USA Press Release
IRA Members imprisoned in Rosso
Soldiers surrounded an anti-slavery protest in Rosso, Mauritania this morning, firing tear-gas cannisters and then moving in to arrest Biram Dah Abeid and eight other anti-slavery activists. Biram Dah Abeid is the president of the Initiative for the Resurgent Abolitionist Movement of Mauritania (IRA – Mauritania). He has won numerous human rights awards for his work fighting slavery in his home country, including the Human Rights prize awarded by the United Nations.
Mauritania, which suffers from hereditary slavery, is lthe country with the highest prevalence of slavery in the world according to the Global Slavery Index. The authoritarian government, headed by President Aziz, has signed a âroad mapâ written by a United Nations expert, to end slavery in Mauritania. However, this public stance against slavery has not produced any real result in the many towns, villages, and farms where slavery thrives. The arrest and imprisonment of anti-slavery activists demonstrates the deep resistance to ending the slave culture.
In order to generate resistance to slavery, IRA – Mauritania organized a Caravan to tour the small agricultural towns and villages, spreading the word against slavery and raising the consciousness of villagers susceptible to exploitation. Seizure of land from Haratine and Negro African Mauritanians is a particular problem in these areas. This caravan started on Friday, November 7th, and generated enthusiastic crowds, speeches and teaching opportunities in each village.
The governor of Rosso, however, issued a decree on November 10th, banning the Caravan from entering that city. It is unclear what the legal grounds were for issuing this ban. The following morning the Caravan was surrounded by soldiers with rifles and tear gas. Biram and his colleagues were arrested and imprisoned.
There are now fifteen IRA members in jail in Mauritania. The nine imprisoned in Rosso join four arrested in late October in Nouakchott following an incident where an Imam used Friday prayer services to denounce Biram and his followers as apostates and atheists. Apostasy is a capital offense in Mauritania. Another conservative religious figure called for the death of Biram on a national television show. These recently incarcerated join their two other colleagues, held since early 2014.
Those arrested in Rosso are Biram Dah ABEID, president of IRA – Mauritania,
Brahim Bilal RAMDHANE vice president of IRA-Mauritanie, Khattri RAHEL président du Comité de la paix of IRA-Mauritanie, Cheikh VALL militant récemment libéré, Dah BOUSHAB président de la section Arafat (quartier de Nouakchott) de IRA, Abidine MATALLA Membre du Bureau Exécutif de IRA-Mauritanie, Samba DIAGANA membre du Comité de la paix, Hassane MAHMOUD membre du Comité de la paix, and Djiby SOW president the non-profit, Kawtal.
Those recently arrested in Nouakchott are Brahim Jiddou, Baba Traoré, Yacoub Inalla, Sabbar Houssein, and those imprisoned since early 2014 are Hanana Mboyrick and Boubacar Yatma.
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