Ould Mkhaitir Free!

When Mohammed Ould Cheikh Ould Mkhaitir was tried and sentenced to death for blasphemy, apostasy, and hypocrisy, his case did not attract much attention beyond the Islamists calling for his death.

Now, after years of international effort, Mkhaitir has finally gained his freedom. President Aziz released Mkhaitir from captivity as one of his final […]

Blasphemy, Apostasy, Hypocrisy: Ould Mkhaitir Case

Sentenced to death for a blog post, Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ould Mkhaitir is in prison in Nouadhibou, Mauritania.

Read about Mkhaitir’s arrest and massive demonstrations against him because he published a blog post criticizing the caste system and discrimination against lower castes in Mauritania.

Read about the intimidation of Mkhaitir’s lawyers, and how several were […]

Five Arrests; Tear Gas and Clubs used against Human Rights Defenders

We have received an urgent communication from Nouakchott.

Fighting and police repression have followed from an Imam’s angry sermon against IRA and Biram Dah Abeid. The Imam, Ahmedou Ould Lemrabott Ould Habibourahman, used his Friday October 24th sermon to severely criticize Biram and IRA, denouncing them as apostates, enemies of Islam and of Muslims, and […]