• Urgent Action

Urgent Action Update: Activist Still Held After Release Order Issued (Niger: UA 93.18)

June 20, 2019

Activist Sadat Illiya Dan Malam continues to be detained after a judge of the Zinder High Court dismissed the charges of “participation in an insurrectional movement” and “conspiracy against the security of the state” against him and ordered his immediate release on 20 May. The Zinder High Court prosecutor has appealed the judge’s decision.

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  1. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
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Issoufou Mahamadou President of the Republic of Niger Palais Présidentiel Boulevard de la République, Niamey, Niger Fax: + 227 20 73 34 30 Email: [email protected]
Ambassador Hassana Alidou Embassy of the Republic of Niger 2204 R St. NW Washington, DC 20008 Phone: 202 483 4224 I Fax: 202 483 3169 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @HassanaAlidou Salutation: Dear Ambassador

Your Excellency, I am concerned about the continued detention of activist Sadat Illiya Dan Malam, who is the Regional Coordinator of the Patriotic Movement for Responsible Citizenship. A judge of the Zinder High Court, on 20 May, dismissed the charges of “participation in an insurrectional movement” and “conspiracy against the security of the state” against Sadat. He instead charged him with a lesser charge of “insult against members political party PNDS Tarayya”’ which carries the punishment of a fine. The judge also ordered his immediate release. Despite the release order, Sadat remains detained in Magaria, 80kms from Zinder as a Zinder High Court prosecutor has appealed the judge’s decision. Sadat was arrested in Zinder (780 kms from the capital Niamey) on 18 April 2018. He was charged in relation to protests against the Finance Law that had been organized by civil society organizations in different parts of the country. I urge you to ensure that the charges against Sadat Illiya Dan Malam are dropped and that he is immediately and unconditionally released; and the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fully respected, protected, promoted and fulfilled in Niger. Yours sincerely, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES