Cairo, August 8, 2012

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, condemns the suppressive practices conducted by the Mauritanian authorities during the visit of Mauritanian President to the City (Atar). Where the Presidential Guard arrested a number of citizens protesting against the president’s visit, as well as the attack on journalists covering the visit.

In the framework of the demonstrations’ eruptions against the rule of the president, “Mohamed Weld Abdel Aziz,” and exploit the fact that the city (Atar) known for its opposition to the regime, called  the youth of the opposition to organize a protest during the visit of President of the city of Atar, the capital of (Adrar). The visit was to record an episode of “I am the people,” among the masses to celebrate the passage of four years he took the power in the country.

The Youth of the opposition assembled and began to chant against the President, also has a youth, called “Said Weld Mokhtarna” stopped the President during his speech; accused him of lying,  asked him to leave, that made the President interrupt his speech and turned to the young man, after he called for the rise to the platform to express his opinion, but he changed the idea with the young man continued in the criticism and accused him of being the hireling of political groups want to spoil the party and abuse the person of the President.

The Presidential Guard  immediately arrest the young protester, draged him outside the celebration and handed him over to police, which made the other young people to protest against the arrest of the young man, so she police arrested some of them also and the number of detainees reached to ten people, according to the latest estimates.

During the journalists, “Ahmedou Weld Elnada” and “Ahmed Weld Sidi,” performing their job in covering the event, the Presidential Guard attacked them while they were filming the arrest of young people and beating them then the Guard expels them from the celebration and  confiscated of filming tools.

ANHRI said that “The arrest of the opposition is incompatible with the authorities declarations to respect the freedom of opinion and expression”.

ANHRI added “The attacks on journalists are unacceptable and represent a serious violation of the right of journalists to practice their work and access to information without barriers”

ANHRI called for the immediate and unconditional release of the youth, and  also called for the need to hold those involved in attacks on journalists on account and to facilitate the performance of their job as well as ensure their protection, rather than attacking them, and that if the Mauritanian authorities are serious in of the promises of respecting the freedom of opinion and expression.