/ / MALI: DETAINED AND CONVICTED ACTIVISTS MUST BE RELEASED

MALI: DETAINED AND CONVICTED ACTIVISTS MUST BE RELEASED

UA: 82.26

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On August 17, activists Rokiatou Doumbia and Mohamed Youssouf Bathily were convicted to ten years imprisonment, three of which were suspended for ‘‘criminal conspiracy’’ and ‘‘discrediting the state’’. Their cases are emblematic of the increasing repression of dissenting voices in Mali and constitute violations of their right to freedom of expression.

Rokiatou Doumbia and Mohamed Youssouf Bathily must be immediately and unconditionally released.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: March 1, 2027

Here is how you can take action:

Send a letter to the Mali authorities
Send an email to the Mali authorities
Post on social media

Scroll down to Step 1 and Step 2 to access the full Urgent Action appeal and sample letter, and U.S.P.S. mailing address (if available).

Take action

Step 1

READ THE FULL URGENT ACTION

Enter your email address and zip code to get the sample letter to send to government officials.

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You can now write a letter in your own words or download the sample below as a guide.

Remember to send your letter by March 1, 2027.

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Sample Letter

Dear Minister,

I am concerned about the arbitrary detention and unlawful conviction of activists Rokiatou Doumbia (known as Rose poivron) and Mohamed Youssouf Bathily (known as Ras Bath).

Rokiatou Doumbia is an activist and social media influencer who through TikTok created a space where her 175,000 followers could speak about daily hardships and rising food prices, earning her the nickname “Rose Poivron” (“Bell Pepper Rose”). On March 13, 2023, she was arrested by the police following her denunciation in a video posted on her TikTok page of the high cost of living, while also describing the political transition as a “failure.” Ras Bath was arrested on the same day after claiming during a meeting that former Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga, who died in detention in 2022, had been the victim of an assassination. Ras Bath is a radio host and commentator. He is an activist, and broadcasted about Mali’s economic hardships, inflation, and shrinking civic spaces.

On August 10, during their trial, prosecutors alleged the broadcaster and influencer were “in association” with each other, with Ras Bath having invited Rokiatou Doumbia onto his show on two previous occasions. On August 17, Rokiatou Doumbia and Ras Bath were convicted by Bamako Court of Appeal’s criminal chamber to ten years in jail, three of which were suspended for “criminal conspiracy’’ and ‘’discrediting the state’’. Their conviction and sentencing are in connection with their activism and criticism of the authorities, in violation of their rights to freedom of expression. Arrest or detention as punishment for the peaceful exercise of human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, is arbitrary and violates the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which Mali is a state party to.

I call on you to immediately and unconditionally release Rokiatou Doumbia and Ras Bath. I urge you to bring Mali’s practices in line with its human rights obligations regarding freedom of expression.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

Step 2

Send your message

Mail your letter to the government officials listed below. You can also email, fax, call, or post about them on social media.

Send your letter to:

Minister of Justice and Human Rights

Mr Mamoudou Kassogué

Cite administrative – bâtiment 12, BP 97 Bamako, Mali

[email protected]

and

CC: Embassy for Mali in the United States

Ambassador Sekou Berthe

Send a copy of your letter to the address below

2130 R Street, NW,

Washington DC 20008

[email protected]

When writing your letter, don’t forget to be factual, brief, and show respect. See more letter writing tips and emails, or organize and host a letter writing party.

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