Documento - Chad: Más información – Temor de tortura: Nadjikimo Benoudjita

PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 20/015/2007

18 December 2007

Further Information on UA 332/07 (AFR 20/014/2007, 14 December 2007) Fear of torture

CHAD Nadjikimo Benoudjita (m), journalist, news editor of newspaper Notre Temps

Nadjikimo Benoudjita appeared before the N’Djamena prosecutor-general on 17 December. He was charged with inciting tribal hatred, over an article published by the newspaper Notre Temps on 11 December. Though eventually released he has been summoned to reappear in court in 2008.

According to Nadjikimo Benoudjita, he was detained in solitary confinement at the Direction des renseignements generaux (Intelligence service headquarters) over an article entitled “Sarko pas de larmes de croco” ( Sarko no crocodile tears) concerning several meetings held by the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy during the EU/AFRICA summit in Lisbon between 8-9 December 2007.

Nadjikimo Benoudjita was originally accused of libel by the chairman of the High Communication Council although the latter does not have the legal capacity to do so. The complaint was later on changed to “incitation to tribal and religious hatred”.

No further action is required. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.