Case SEN 060209_EN
Death in detention/ Risk of impunity
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Senegal.
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the African Assembly for the Defense of Human Rights (Rencontre africaine pour la défense des droits de l’Homme, RADDHO), a member organisation of OMCT SOS-Torture Network, about the death in detention of Mr. Mamadou Bakhoum (32 years), at Karang gendarmerie station.
According to the information received, on 23 January 2009, around 9:00pm, Mr. Mamadou Bakhoum, suspected of drug trafficking, was arrested and brought to Karang gendarmerie station where he was interrogated before being placed under police custody in a security cell (commonly known as “death cell”). On 24 January 2009, Mr. Mamadou Bakhoum was brought to the hospital where he was declared dead.
According to the same information, the circumstances of his death remain unclear but according to testimonies, Mr. Mamadou Bakhoum would have been injured during his arrest and cries would have been heard during his interrogation.
The International Secretariat of OMCT expresses its concern with regard to the circumstances of the death of Mr. Mamadou Bakhoum while in police custody, in particular following other similar cases, some of which OMCT has denounced[1]. OMCT recalls that “ (…) no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life” and that “each State Party shall keep under systematic review interrogation rules, instructions, methods and practices as well as arrangements for the custody and treatment of persons subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment in any territory under its jurisdiction, with a view to preventing any cases of torture” (art. 11 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment). OMCT urges the competent Senegalese authorities to carry out a prompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances of this death, the result of which must be made public.
Please write to the authorities of Senegal urging them to:
Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Senegal in your respective countries.
Geneva, 6 February 2009.
Kindly inform OMCT of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply.
| Tweet |