May 19, 2016

Haratin: UN Secretary General Welcomes Release of Anti-Slavery Activists


UN Photo/Evan Schneider


The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has issued a statement welcoming the release of human rights activists Biram Dah Abeid and Brahim Bilal Ramdhane. The activists were arrested in November 2014 during a peaceful anti-slavery march, and sentenced to two years in 2015. However, on 17 May in Mauritania they were released following a Supreme Court decision that effectively reduced their sentence. 

 

Below is an article published by the UN News Centre:


United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the release of human rights activists Biram Dah Abeid and Brahim Ould Bilal on 17 May in Mauritania, following a Supreme Court decision.

“The Secretary-General commends efforts by the Mauritanian authorities to strengthen the rule of law and urges the judicial authorities to carefully investigate the circumstances that led to the arrests of the activists,” said a statement issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson in New York.

The statement went on to say that the UN chief also encourages the Mauritanian Government to pursue its efforts to promote national unity and social cohesion.