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Arbitrary detention of human rights defender Abdoulaye Seydou

Status: 
Detained
About the situation

On 23 January 2023, human rights defender Abdoulaye Seydou was transferred to the high security central prison of Kollo, located about 30 km from Niamey, the capital city of Niger. The human rights defender was initially charged with publication of information likely to undermine public order, for which he brought before a judge. He was then arrested following a new complaint for which he was accused of complicity in the burning of a miners' sheds on the Tamou gold site.

About the HRD

Abdoulaye SeydouAbdoulaye Seydou is a human rights defender, as well as the coordinator of the Movement M62. This is a citizen-led movement which focuses on the promotion of human rights, advocates for civil and political rights and fights corruption and bad governance in Niger.

27 January 2023
Arbitrary detention of human rights defender Abdoulaye Seydou

On 23 January 2023, human rights defender Abdoulaye Seydou was transferred to the high security central prison of Kollo, located about 30 km from Niamey, the capital city of Niger. The human rights defender was initially charged with publication of information likely to undermine public order, for which he brought before a judge. He was then arrested following a new complaint for which he was accused of complicity in the burning of a miners' sheds on the Tamou gold site.

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Abdoulaye Seydou is a human rights defender, as well as the coordinator of the Movement M62. This is a citizen-led movement which focuses on the promotion of human rights, advocates for civil and political rights and fights corruption and bad governance in Niger.

On 23 January 2023, human rights defender Abdoulaye Seydou appeared before a judge in Niamey. He was initially charged with ‘’publication of information likely to undermine public order’’, however the charge was later dropped.

On attempting to leave the courthouse, Abdoulaye Seydou was arrested and charged with complicity in the burning of miners' sheds on the Tamou gold site in the Say region. That same day he was transferred to the high security central prison of Kollo, located about 30 km from Niamey the capital city.

Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention of human rights defender Abdoulaye Seydou as it strongly believes that this is directly linked to his peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights.