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Amade Abubacar’s family prevented from visiting him in Cabo Delgado prison
8:20 CAT | 13 Mar 2019
Mozambican journalist Amade Abubacar. File photo: Amnesty International
Amade Abubacar’s family prevented from visiting him and Cabo Delgado’s Attorney tries to discredit Amnesty International
The father of journalist Amade Abubacar told @Verdade that he has not been allowed to visit his son since he was detained in the Mieze jail, in Metuge district, Cabo Delgado, and that his brother has not been allowed to see him either, a fact confirmed by another source close to the process.
On Tuesday (March 5), Amnesty International (AI) said that Amade Abubacar was “being subjected to ill-treatment,”, and may be “in need of urgent medical care” which he was not receiving.
“Amade is being held at the Mieze Correctional Centre in Pemba district, Cabo Delgado province. His prison cell is overcrowded, and he has been denied his right to receive family visits, ” read the AI communique.
Twenty-four hours later, the Provincial Attorney General’s Office of Cabo Delgado visited the Mieze penitentiary, taking some journalists along. The purpose was to scotch the Amnesty report, and pass on the picture that the journalist was getting proper treatment and receiving regular family visits.
Amade, who statements were allegedly not allowed to be recorded or he himself be filmed, is quoted by the newspaper Notícias, for example, as reporting that he receives visits from certain entities, including from non-governmental organisations, and enjoys good health.
According to the newspaper, the journalist said: “My brother comes to visit me regularly.”
ALSO READ: PGR takes the press to visit Amade Abubacar in jail; in good health and not mistreated, he said
However, this was denied by his own father, who commented over the phone: “His brother, when he manages to go visit him, is not allowed” any contact with Amade. “The last time I saw Amade was when he was detained here in Macomia,” where he stayed for several days, equally isolated from everything and everyone after being brought from a military base in Mueda.
Armando Wilson, a spokesman for the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Cabo Delgado, said the Amnesty International information was fallacious and likely to call into question the democratic rule of law.
“You must know that in the penitentiary of Mieze one does not receive visits from relatives. MISA-Mozambique itself is aware of this”
@Verdade telephoned Augusto Messariamba, a lawyer with MISA-Mozambique and in the journalist’s legal team. The lawyer was categorical in stating that he could not impart any information about his client “without the authorisation of the family”.
However, another source contacted by us said that it is not true that Amade had received visits from anyone. “You must know that in the penitentiary of Mieze one does not receive visits from relatives. MISA-Mozambique itself is aware of this,” the source declared.
Our interlocutor further clarified that, although no prisoner has the privilege of keeping in touch with his relatives, lawyers are allowed access to the prison in question. He confirmed that Amade’s brother had been to Mieze but “stayed outside”.
Contrary to the message the prosecutor conveyed to the public, no member of the Amade family has had access to the penitentiary. The brother has been there but was forbidden to enter.
By Emidio Sambo
#Mozambique: Today is Tuesday & it’s day 65 in jail without trial for journalist #AmadeAbubacar. President @FNyusi must #FreeAmade. Join @pressfreedom & others in urging the Mozambican government to do the right thing & end this travesty of justice. #JournalismIsNotACrime. https://t.co/SWOpAACNJh
— Angela Quintal (@angelaquintal) March 12, 2019
Permettez à #MohamedMhaïtir d’avoir accès sans restriction à sa famille, son avocate et des soins médicaux;#FreeAmade@CecileCoudriou@kikanfr @Avlessifiacre @aliounetine16 @amnestybenin @Amnesty_Suisse @Sylvia_Apata @Fontaine6447 @PriorityHuman @Journal_DHI @Codap_ong pic.twitter.com/CrfqUOZdKW
— Yannick Dedokoton (@Yannickdedo) March 6, 2019
#Mozambique. It is Friday & #AmadeAbubacar’s 61st day in pre-trial detention for his journalism. Read this extract from today’s @ZitamarNews newsletter to see how authorities continue to violate his rights. #JournalismIsNotACrime #FreeAmade #LiberteAmade pic.twitter.com/3wrDWukTuD
— Angela Quintal (@angelaquintal) March 8, 2019
Source: A Verdade
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