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IRA – USA is very honored to announce that Biram Dah Abeid is among Time Magazine’s “100 most influential” people in the world today.
Anti-Slavery International’s president, Aidan McQuade, writes that Biram “is an inspiration to thousands who continue to resist slavery in Mauritania and beyond.”
IRA – USA was established at the request of Biram. Our mission is to fight against slavery, state racism and gender oppression in Mauritania. We support the work of IRA – Mauritania, as well as other Mauritanian human rights organizations.
We are delighted that IRA Mauritania has won this international recognition, despite the on-going police actions against IRA in Mauritania.
 Biram Dah Abeid and Bakary Tandia at the award ceremony in New York
The current list of IRA members arrested subsequent to June 29th is:
1-Diop Amamadou Tdjane
2-Balla Touré
3-Hamady lehbouss
4-Ahmed Amarvall
5- Khattry M’Bareck
6-Mohamed Daty
7-Jemal Bléyile
8-Ousmane Anne
9-Ousmane Lô
10-Abdallahi Matallah Seck
11-Moussa Biram
12-Mohamed Zarouhoullah
13- Abdallahi Abou Diop
14 Ahmed Hamdy
Amadou Tidjane Diop spoke with IRA USA today from his prison cell in Dar Na-im prison, Nouakchott. Dar Na-im is the general prison for violent offenders. He reports that he was not beaten, but many among the IRA prisoners suffered immensely from repeated beatings by the police.
The IRA prisoners were brought to court in the middle of the night/very early morning Monday July 11 – Tuesday July 12th. They were indicted on charges of endangering national security, belonging to a non-recognized organization, impeding officers of the police from doing their work, and inciting violence against the police. After the indictment they were transferred to Dar Na-im.
According to Diop, Dar Na-im is disgusting, dirty and unhealthy, but the conditions are better than their detention with the police. Diop was arrested June 30th, and spent more than a week in a dank cell at the police holding location.
The prisoners were charged as criminals, rather than with civil charges. They were also charged via the “inflagrante delicto” process. This means that the state maintains they were seized in the very act of committing the crimes for which they were charged. The IRA prisoners, however, were almost all arrested at their homes or places of work, so it is difficult to understand how this inflagrante delicto process can lead to convictions. This process also mandates that the accused be brought to trial within 30 days.
Boubacar Messaoud, President of SOS-esclaves and member of the National Torture Mechanism commission, has protested the police violence against the prisoners as a violation of Mauritania’s 2015 law against torture.
Moussa Biram appeared in court on Tuesday morning with bruises on his hands and feet. He is also urinating blood according to his lawyer, who reports Moussa is being regularly beaten on his feet. His lawyer, Maitre Ould Mbareck, demanded that the prosecutor file an investigation request, but the prosecutor refused to do this. Therefore Maitre Ould Mbareck has filed a complaint directly. The National Commission on Torture thus far denies receiving any reports about torture.
See Radio France Int’l report.
Notice received this morning from Nouakchott:
Je vous informe que la police ils ont arrêté hier,Mohamed Daty et aujourd’hui,il sont arrêté,Ousmane Lo,Ousmane Sy,Abdellahi Diop,
bien a vous …
translated: I inform you that yesterday the police arrested Mohamed Daty and that today they arrested Ousmane Lo, Ousmane Sy, and Abdellahi Diop.
The report of the arrest of Ousmane Sy was later corrected to Ousmane Ane.
One woman is reported arrested: Oumou Wane.
The arrests are falling heavily among the Fulani community.
Here is the Current Note d’Information:
Note d’information numéro 4:
La vague de kidnappings continue de déferler sur les militants d’IRA-Mauritanie. Nous venons d’apprendre les kidnappings de Mohamed Datty, Ousmane Anne et Ousmane Lo. Mohamed Datty a été interpellé à son domicile à Arafat et Ousmane Anne et Ousmane Lo ont été brutalement arrêtés dans une voiture alors qu’ils étaient en compagnie de Marieme Mint Cheikh Dieng et Dah Bousshab; ces deux derniers ont été relâchés peu après. Les autres, Mohamed Datty, Ousmane Anne et Ousmane Lo sont portés disparus. Nous avons aussi appris les disparitions de Ami Wane et de Abdoulaye Abou Diop.
À ce jour, près d’une vingtaine de militants d’IRA-Mauritanie, dont des membres du Bureau Exécutif, sont portés disparus.
IRA-Mauritanie appelle toutes les forces progressistes nationales éprises des droits de la personne humaine et de la paix civile ainsi que la communauté internationale à s’ériger contre et à dénoncer cette série de disparitions orchestrées par l’Etat. IRA Mauritanie appelle toutes ses militantes et tous ses militants à une mobilisation pacifique, massive et continue jusqu’à la libération de tous ces disparus depuis le 30 juin et jusqu’à la fin de la pratique de l’esclavage et de la discrimination en Mauritanie.
La Commission de Communication
IRA-Mauritanie
This is a press release from U.S. Senator Ben Cardin:
United States Senate Committee on
FOREIGN RELATIONS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2016
CONTACT
Sean Bartlett 202-224-4651
Sue Walitsky 202-224-4524
Cardin Statement on Arrests of Anti-Slavery Activists in Mauritania
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Wednesday after being updated on the arrests of several anti-slavery activists in Mauritania:
“Last week I had the great privilege of meeting Mr. Biram Dah Abeid and Mr. Brahim B. Ramdhane at the State Department launch of the 2016 Trafficking in Persons report. These remarkable gentlemen were both born as children of slaves, and have gone on to channel their hardship into a movement to end slavery and human trafficking. Both gentlemen were awarded by the State Department for their leadership in calling for greater justice and accountability in their home country of Mauritania.
“I learned this morning that at nearly the same time I was meeting with Secretary Kerry and this year’s awardees, including Mr. Abeid and Mr. Ramdhane, the Mauritanian government was arresting nine members of their organization, the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA). IRA is the largest anti-slavery organization in Mauritania, with members throughout the country who regularly mobilize to protest slavery and state-endorsed discrimination based in race, caste and gender. As I and State understand, there have still been no formal charges against the nine and the standard 72 hour pre-trial window, as called for in Mauritanian law, has closed.
“It’s no secret that Mauritania has one of the worst records in the world when it comes to the scourge of modern slavery. I call on the government of Mauritania to immediately release these individuals and instead of arresting or harassing those who advocate for universal human rights, recommend they use more of their resources to end slavery in their own country.”
###
0630_Kerry_JTIP_Ceremony_14 (1) (2)
Senator Cardin (standing, far left) poses for a photo with Secretary of State John Kerry (seated, center), Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn., standing, far right), Ambassador Susan Coppedge (standing, second from right) and the State Department’s 2016 group of individuals awarded for their efforts to combat modern slavery and trafficking in persons on June 30th, 2016 in Washington. Mr. Brahim B. Ramdhane is standing third from the right, and Mr. Biram Dah Abeid is standing fourth from the right.
UPDATED JULY 9th: [this earlier report is not corroborated by one recent source that insists Diop has not been injured. We have not be able to confirm this recent update nor the initial report. We remain without any direct news of the IRA detained. All of the IRA members arrested are being held in secret locations, incommunicado, with no contact with families or lawyers. Inquiries at the police station are met with no response.]
We have received reports that at least two IRA members held in police custody are now in the hospital with serious injuries. One or both may be in a coma from head injuries.
We will up-date this when more information is available.
Here is a sub-divided list of people arrested since the unrest at Gazra Bouamatou (that incident was linked to the evictions of squatters from their homesteads. Such evictions happen because someone else (normally an Arab-Berber businessman) gains title to the land and then plans to develop it, so evicts the squatters).
These arrests are retribution for the U.S. State Department awarding Biram Dah Abeid and Brahim Bilal Ramdane the TIPs Hero Award on June 30, 2016. The government is claiming that IRA incited a riot. IRA is dedicated to non-violent social change.
If you would like to contribute to support the families of those arrested and to help pay for legal defense, you can use our paypal link here:
A-Membres de IRA Mauritanie arrêtés :
1) Mr Diop Amadou Tidjane, vice-président de l’organisation, arrêté le matin du 30 Juin 2016 chez lui
2) Mr Abdallahi Maatalla Seck, Coordinateur de la section de IRA à Sebkha, arrêté le matin du 30 Juin 2016 chez lui
3) Mr Moussa Birame, Militant, arrêté Premier Juillet 2016, tard le soir chez lui
4) Mr Jemal Beylil, militant, arrêté le Premier Juillet 2016, dans sa boutique au Commune du Ksar.
5) Mr Balla Touré secrétaire aux relations extérieures, arrêté chez lui tôt le matin du 1 Juillet 2016
6) Mr Khatri Rahel Mbareck, coordinateur du comité de la paix, arrêté le matin du 3 Juillet 2016 lorsqu’il conduisait sa voiture taxi devant la banque BMCI.
7) Hamady Lehbouss, Communications officer for IRA
8) Ahmed Hamervall (Ahmed Hamdi), IRA accountant
9) Mohamed Jarr
B-Membres de IRA Mauritanie, blessés le 2 Juillet lors d’un Sit-In organisé par IRA devant le ministère de la justice
1) Mr. Samba Aly Diagana, blessures moyennes.
2) Mm Vatma-Jemal ACHOUR, Blessure grave, fracture de Bras.
3) Mm Ghamou ACHOUR, Blessure grave, fracture de Bras.
Personnes non Membres de IRA Mauritanie, arrêtées le 29 Juin 2016 sur le lieu des émeutes :
1) Mr. Mohamed Razgue, Activiste, Président de Mouvement conseil de la Jeunesse Hratin, arrêté le 29 juin lors des affrontements, lorsqu’il apportait un soutien de secours á une victime tombée á la suite d’attaque de la police.
2) Un groupe estimé á plus de 40 personnes parmi la population déportée du lieu des affrontements avec la police.
Nota : la totalité de la population qui habitait la Gazra BOUAMATOU, estimée á environ 400 á 450 familles (donc des milliers d’individus pauvres)
a été déportée vers le quartier DUBAI, ou habitent déjà d’autres milliers de pauvres qui étaient y délogés il y a quelques années.
URGENT Press Announcement
Washington DC July 1, 2016
update on July 3rd: If you would like to support IRA please consider donating via paypal.
Donations to IRA -USA are tax deductible.
We are very happy that the IRA President, Biram Dah Abeid, and Vice – President Brahim Bilal Ramdhane, are finally freed from jail.
The number of individuals and organizations who worked together to protest the jailing of these leading anti-slavery activists is huge. IRA USA is very proud to be counted among the IRA community in Mauritania, Europe, Canada and elsewhere. Organizations such as Anti-Slavery International, the Unrepresented Peoples Organization (UNPO), Frontline Defenders, Amnesty International, Freedom House, Freedom Now, Walk Free, and Avaaz have joined forces with us to advance anti-slavery work in Mauritania. We could not have succeeded without such broad and powerful support.
The volunteers and Board Members of IRA USA have given numerous hours of work to help free Biram and Brahim. The wide network of supporters generated by Walk Free and Avaaz created massive pressure for the freeing of Biram and Brahim. The U.S. government, especially the U.S. Ambassador to Mauritania, Larry Andre, has been an ally in this cause.
Our work to support the anti-slavery cause in Mauritania will continue. Right now we just want to pause and give a heartfelt thank you to all our supporters!
IRA is starting a new Caravan Against Agrarian Slavery.
It was while participating in such a Caravan that the IRA members were arrested on November 11, 2014. Biram Dah Abeid and Brahim Bilal Ramdane are both still in jail.
This new Caravan is a courageous action by IRA members who want to help those dispossessed of their lands and subjugated by the landowners in Southern Mauritania.
IRA – Mauritanie announcement of the Caravan:
Poursuite de la lutte contre l’esclavage foncier
18 fév, 2016 par Fama Diagne Laisser un commentaire
Ira-MauritanieLe Bureau Exécutif (BE) d’IRA – Mauritanie se réjouit de la déclaration conjointe faite le 11 février 2016 par les Président Biram DAH ABEID et Brahim BILA RAMDHAN, depuis leur prison appelant les militants et sympathisants à continuer la mobilisation et le militantisme actif et pacifique contre le système raciste et esclavagiste qui règne en Mauritanie.
En réponse à l’appel des leaders de notre organisation, le Bureau Exécutif a pris la décision lors de sa réunion du 15 février dernier de poser encore un jalon dans la lutte contre l’esclavage foncier et les expropriations foncières dont sont victimes les hratin et les communautés négro mauritaniennes. A cet effet, le BE a mis en place un Comité d’organisation d’une caravane contre l’esclavage foncier et les expropriations foncières. Le comité a présenté au BE une ébauche de plan qui donne un projet d’itinéraire de la caravane qui partira de Sélibaby et passera par Mbout, Brakéol, Lexeiba I, Kaédi pour finir à Boghé. Ces zones sont choisies du fait du nombre important des victimes de l’esclavage foncier et des expropriations qu’elles comptent. Le dernier cas d’esclavage foncier est illustré par la détention depuis plus d’un mois à la prison de Kiffa de Oumery OULD MAOULOUD et de Sidi Ahmed OULD MAHMOUD OULD MBALLA, paisibles habitants de Boulahrath qui ont eut le seul tord de s’être opposés à l’expropriation de leurs terres qu’ils cultivent et que leurs ancêtres travaillaient.
IRA – Mauritanie, fermement engagée contre l’esclavage foncier et les expropriations foncières :
Dénonce l’injustice dont sont victimes Oumery OULD MAOULOUD et de Sidi Ahmed OULD MAHMOUD OULD MBALLA et exige leur libération immédiate et sans conditions,
Appelle les militants et sympathisants à se mobiliser pour la réussite de la caravane annoncée,
Invite les organisations de Droits humains, ainsi les partis politiques à prendre part à la caravane,
Et met en garde les autorités contre toute tentative de répression et de sabotage contre la caravane annoncée.
Fait à Nouakchott, le 18 février 2016
La commission de communication
We are proud to announce the Consortium with Association Femmes Chef de Famille (AFCF) and Association Mauritanienne des Droits de l’Homme (AMDH) has secured $100,000 funding for a Mauritanian program to train paralegals, staff legal aid clinics, run human rights seminars, and organize civil society engagement in statutory reform.
Our program offers legal assistance to individuals escaping slavery, suffering land dispossession, confronting denial of basic rights of citizenship (i.e., arbitrary refusal of national identity card), and other severe human rights abuses.
This project is funded by the American Bar Association Rule of Law program. The program is benefiting from additional material support from Alston and Bird LLP.
Aminetou Moctar, President of AFCF, Fatimata M’Baye, President of AMDH, and Alice Bullard, President of IRA – USA, joined together to form this Consortium. The project will be run by an independent Project Director. Fourteen Mauritanians will receive para-legal training and employment by the project for ten months. Legal aid centers will be run in Nouakchott, Selibaby, Kaedi, Nema, Rosso and Boghe.
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