Mali journalist detained after criticising junta at media forum

A Malian journalist was placed in detention on Monday after being summoned by judicial authorities, days after he openly criticised the ruling junta during a media forum in Bamako.

Chahana Takiou, director of publication of the biweekly newspaper ’22 Septembre’, was taken into custody following a judicial hearing on charges of ‘undermining state credit through the judiciary’. A judicial source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the detention and stated that his trial is scheduled for 27 July.

Family members of Mr Takiou verified the detention.

During the Pan-African Media Forum, held in Bamako from 3 to 6 June, Mr Takiou participated in a panel moderated by Idrissa Hamidou Touré, a prosecutor from a Bamako court. In his remarks, he declared: ‘There is no peace dynamic in Mali. You arrest journalists, and instead of judging them under the press regime and press offences in Mali, you apply the cybercrime law.’

The Maison de la Presse in Mali issued a statement on Monday evening expressing its ‘incomprehension’ and ‘deep concern’ over the journalist’s incarceration. The statement condemned the detention order as ‘a flagrant and serious attack on freedom of opinion and of the press’, adding that it ‘tarnishes the image of the judiciary, the press and our country’. The organisation and professional media bodies said they firmly condemn the move.