Djibouti: Protecting the rights of jailed air force pilots

In late March 2020, former Djiboutian Air Force Lieutenant Fouad Youssef Ali fled to neighboring Ethiopia, apparently seeking asylum. Before leaving, he released a video accusing a senior military officer of corruption and clan-based discrimination and calling for an armed rebellion against the government. In April, Ethiopia deported him to Djibouti, where he was charged with treason without the presence of a lawyer. In June, Fouad released a video from his cell in Gabod Central Prison alleging degrading treatment, sparking public outcry and protest rallies demanding his release.

“The Djiboutian authorities should thoroughly investigate Fouad’s allegations of abuse and ensure that his fundamental rights are protected,” he said. Letitia BuddHorn of Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “The government should not use this case as an excuse to suppress public protest, especially ahead of national elections.”

Since President Ismail Omar Guelleh took office in 1999, the Djibouti government has repeatedly suppressed sporadic public protests and Media freedom is severely restrictedand freedom of association and peaceful assembly. Presidential Election EveThe next presidential election is expected to be held in 2021.

Djibouti is strategically located on the Gulf of Aden and hosts military bases from countries including the United States, China and France. In a bid to secure a two-year term on the UN Security Council at the end of June, President Guelleh praised the country’s role in the Horn of Africa region. Promoting peaceA three-day border clash with Eritrea in 2008 led to tensions over the fate of Djibouti prisoners of war. Still unresolved.

Fuad’s relatives told Human Rights Watch that he had intended to seek asylum in Ethiopia, but he appeared to have been summarily deported and held incommunicado in Gabod without immediate access to a lawyer or family visits. Human Rights Watch said Ethiopia should investigate whether local authorities respected Fuad’s right to seek asylum.

On April 22, Djibouti authorities brought Fuad to court without a lawyer, charging him with treason, including ties to a foreign power, Eritrea; defamation of the armed forces; and incitement. Hatred and popular uprisingThe penalty for treason is life imprisonment. Fuad’s lawyer, Zakaria Abdullahi Ali, told Human Rights Watch that Fuad had been detained for longer than the 48 hours allowed by the constitution. Code of Criminal Procedure He was subsequently brought to court and was not allowed to meet Fuad until May 13. Fuad’s relatives said they did not receive any information about Fuad’s whereabouts until April 25 and did not see him until June 7.

On June 3, Fouad released a video shot in his isolation cell in which he described harsh detention conditions and said he suffered from a severe skin disease. The video, which was viewed by Human Rights Watch, showed Fouad being held in a small cell with most of the space taken up by a toilet and no windows. On June 4 and 5, the video sparked public outcry and protests in the capital, Djibouti City (including the suburb of Barbara), and Ali Sabieh, Djibouti’s second largest city.

Human rights organizations have Previous Records Political prisoners suffered inhumane treatment Gabordincluding death Detentions in 2017 The reason is the poor health of Mohamed Ahmed, a member of the political opposition who has been detained on political charges.

Fuad’s lawyers appealed to the court to have Fuad transferred to a hospital or temporarily released. On June 18, the Court of Appeal rejected the request following a medical evaluation by court-appointed doctors, who reportedly concluded that Fuad had adequate medical assistance while in detention.

Authorities have publicly denied allegations that Fouad was ill-treated. On June 11, the president’s office accused Fouad of “manipulating” the conditions of his detention. Tell the media Those held in solitary cells have daily access to the courtyard and the attorney general has ordered an investigation into the circumstances of the video shooting and prison conditions.

Fuad’s wife, Samira Jama, told Human Rights Watch that her family has been harassed since Fuad fled the country. On March 27, authorities detained her and her two children, ages 13 and 16, along with 15 family members and a neighbor. She said she was held at the central police station for a week and repeatedly questioned about her husband’s whereabouts.

Authorities say protests sparked by the video’s release “unauthorized” and deployed security forces to disperse them. In Ali Sabieh, media ReportedSecurity forces have used live ammunition, and Human Rights Watch said the authorities should conduct impartial investigations into all reports of excessive and lethal force used against protesters.

According to media reports, Fuad The release continuesSecurity forces have reportedly detained dozens of protesters, including two Voice of Djibouti journalists: Kassem Nour Abal, who was detained at his home in Ali Sabieh in the early hours of June 5, and Mohamed Ibrahim Wais, who was detained in the capital on June 7. They were detained and not brought to court within the required 48 hours. Then release.

On June 11, the president’s office said several people had been arrested during the demonstrations, “including several people posing as journalists.” A reporter for the opposition Democratic Restoration Movement’s private media outlet, Voice of Djibouti, said: Subjected to repeated intimidation and arbitrary arrests”media reported.

Before the 2011 presidential election, Human Rights Watch Establishmentauthorities banned all demonstrations and arbitrarily arrested and prosecuted peaceful protesters and opposition leaders.

exist End of 2015After President Guelleh announced his candidacy for a fourth term, media and human rights groups reported Dozens of opposition supporters protesting the decision were detained. December 23, 2015 At least 19 people At a public gathering for a religious festival in Barbara, 100 people were reportedly killed. In December of that year, the government passed an emergency law allowing the Council of Ministers to dissolve any person deemed Threat to public order.

Djibouti is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary detention and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and protects the rights to counsel and a fair trial, as well as freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

“Djibouti’s leadership has been seeking greater international recognition,” Badr said. “The leadership should start by promoting human rights at home, including respect for peaceful protests, media freedom, and the rights of detainees.”