Men arrested in Mauritania for controversial documentary
Date: 1998
Region: Africa
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Film Video
Artist: Boubacar Ould Messaoud, Maitre Brahim Ould Ebetty, Professor Cheik Saad Bouh Kamara and Abdel Nasser Ould Ethmane
Confronting Bodies: Mauritanian government
Date of Action: January 1998
Location: Mauritania, and France
Description of Artwork: A documentary about slavery in Mauritania.
The Incident: All four men were charged with creating a "non-authorized association" and spreading "false information," in the production of their documentary, that aired on French television.
Results of Incident: Messaoud, Ebetty and Kamara were arrested in Mauritania and Ethmane was charged in absentia, because he lives in France. On 12 February, the four were sentenced to 13 months' imprisonment. Those in custody lodged an appeal with the Court of Appeal which confirmed their sentences in March. However, on the very day the Court of Appeal announced its verdict, all four were granted presidential clemency, and the remaining restrictions on their supporters were lifted, although the organizations which they were accused of running remained unauthorized.
Source: Index on Censorship, 2/97; http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/flamnet/message/1447