afrol News, 7 March - A court in the Nigerien capital Niamey has sentenced the editor of the independent bi-monthly 'L'Eveil Plus' to a month in prison for "discrediting" a court decision. Aboubacar Gourouza was also fined US $100.

The editor's conviction was exacerbated by an article he had published, comparing the court's recent decision to a similar previous case. He questioned why the court would allow the provisional release of the mayor of the southern city of Maradi while keeping the mayor of Niamey when they were all accused of embezzlement.

Rapporteur sans frontières has reacted to the development, saying it is "clearly anti-democratic."

"Editorials commenting on and sometimes comparing court decisions after the event is common practice in democratic countries but in Niger it seems to be regarded as a crime," RSF said, raising concern over the mounting deterioration of free expression in the west African country.

Before his conviction, Gourouza has been held in Niamey prison since his arrest on 27 February.

A defamation charge against him by a politician, Mohamed Keita, had been withdrawn shortly after the trial started.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories