An appeal court has acquitted three anti-slavery activists Ousmane Lô, Ousmane Anne and Jemal Beylil on 18 November. On the same day, the court also reduced the sentences of the 10 other anti-slavery activists who had been imprisoned since 30 June. This is despite the prosecutor’s request to have the sentences of the 13 anti-slavery activists increased to 20 years each.
Amadou Tidjane Diop, Hamady Lehbouss, Mohamed Daty, Khatri Rahel Mbareck, Mohamed Jaroullah, Ahmed Hamarvall and Balla Touré were sentenced to one year prison with four months’ suspended for membership of an unauthorised association. They were released on 18 November as they had already served this time in prison.
Abdallahi Maatalla Seck and Moussa Ould Bilal Biram were sentenced to three years in prison.. They remain in Zoureit prison serving their sentences. Their expected release date is August 2018
Abdallahi Abdou Diop was sentenced to six months’ in prison and was released in January 2017.
Except those acquitted, the other 10 anti-slavery activists will have to pay a collective fine of 45, 897 USD.
We will continue campaigning for the two anti-slavery activists who are still detained until they are released.
Take Action NowThe released anti-slavery activists shared the following message with Amnesty International after their release, ‘’ we express our deep gratitude to Amnesty International. Our thanks to you are coming from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for the pressure you made for our release, thank you for being there every day for oppressed people in Mauritania and the world.’
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