Front Line is concerned following reports of charges of “impersonating a lawyer” and “threats” pending against human rights defender Mamsour Hamadou, following his arrest on 22 November 2008 in Maroua, Far North Province. Mamsour Hamadou is a member of the Mouvement pour la Défense des Droits Humains et des Libertés – MDDHL (Movement for the Defence of Human Rights and Liberties).

Further Information

On 22 November 2008, reports indicate that the police, following the arrest of a man called Mohamadou Abdoul Aziz, stopped in front of the offices of MDDHL and demanded that Mohamadou Abdul Aziz inform “human rights” (the MDDHL) about his arrest, which he did.

Mamsour Hamadou, on behalf of MDDHL, went to the police station where Mohamadou Abdoul Aziz was being held to inquire about the reasons of his arrest. The police claim that upon being asked what his purpose was, Mamsour Hamadou had said that he was acting as council for Mohamadou Abdoul Aziz, and that upon being asked if that meant that he was “like a lawyer”, Mamsour Hamadou responded affirmatively. The police then arrested Mamsour Hamadou, confiscating his wallet and MDDHL membership card. Mamsour Hamadou was later released at approximately 7:00 pm but the Police Commissioner informed MDDHL that a judicial inquiry had been opened against Mamsour Hamadou for “impersonating a lawyer”, and “threats” .

Front Line views the arrest and inquiry against Mamsour Hamadou as the most recent example of the systematic harassment of MDDHL by the police and authorities of the Far North Province. Further examples include the arrest, on 16 September 2008, of MDDHL member Gaston Tagaï, who remains in police custody in spite of the law limiting police detention to a maximum of 72 hours, and the threats and intimidation received by MDDHL director Abdoulaye Math from the police and the judicial authorities, including the prosecutor general, in March and April 2008.

Front Line believes that Mamsour Hamadou and the MDDHL have been targeted as a direct result of their legitimate activities in defence of human rights in Cameroon. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Mamsour Hamadou and all the members of the MDDHL.