On May 20, 2024, Etienne Fakaba Sissoko, a Malian economist and university professor, was convicted on charges of defamation, damaging the state’s reputation and distributing fake news. He was sentenced to two years in jail, with one year suspended, and a fine of XOF 3 million (approximately 4,500 Euros). A notable government critic, Etienne Fakaba Sissoko, was arrested on March 25, 2024 after the publication of a book in which he denounced alleged propaganda in the Malian government’s public information campaign. His arbitrary detention is in violation of his right to freedom of expression. He must be immediately and unconditionally released.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: July 26, 2024
take action:
- Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
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contact information:
Mr Mahamadou Kassogué
Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Cite administrative – batiment 12
BP 97 Bamako, Mali
Email: [email protected]
Embassy for Mali in the United States
Ambassador SEM Sékou Berthe
2130 R Street,
NW, Washington DC 20008
Email: [email protected]
sample letter:
Dear Minister / Your Excellency,
I am concerned about the arbitrary detention and unlawful conviction of Professor Étienne Fakaba Sissoko to two years in jail, one of which was suspended.
On March 25, 2024, the Judicial Investigation Brigade arrested Étienne Fakaba Sissoko, a university professor, economist, activist, and author, at his home in Bamako. Two days later, he was charged with “harming the reputation of the state”, “defamation”, and “dissemination of false news disturbing the public peace’’. The charges are related to his book, “Propaganda, Agitation and Harassment – government communication during the transition in Mali”, published in December 2023, in which he was critical of Mali’s military authorities.
Amnesty International believes Etienne Sissoko was sentenced solely because of his activism and criticism, in violation of his rights to freedom of expression.
Therefore, I call upon you to ensure the Malian authorities immediately and unconditionally release Étienne Fakaba Sissoko and quash his conviction. Pending his release, I urge you to ensure that he has access to his lawyers and family.
Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
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