Mali: EI joins the IFJ in calling for the release of imprisoned teacher and journalists

The teacher and journalist have been imprisoned since June 14th. They were jailed after an article was published in a private newspaper about an essay that the teacher set his final-year literature students on the comical indiscretions of a fictional president. Following the republishing of the article in other newspapers, four newspaper editors were arrested on 20th June on charges of “complicity in an insult against the president" All six are due to appear on June 26th in criminal court in Bamako. EI joins the IFJ in calling on President Amadou Toumani Touré to ensure that the teacher, journalist and editors are released immediately. EI and the IFJ also call for the charges to be dropped as they serve only to tarnish the image of Mali, generally seen in the region as a model of democracy with respect for freedom of expression.

[Tue, 26 Jun 2007 17:18:43 +0000] | DIGG THIS