Controversial death sentence – Mauritania does not tolerate criticism of tabooing and social disadvantage

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) strongly criticizes the death sentence for apostasy that was imposed in Mauritania on Christmas Eve. "With this harsh judgment, religion is misused to reinforce the deadlock of the Mauritanian society and the marginalization of certain population groups. This is not really about religion, but about a caste society in which some are afraid to lose their privileges," said the STP's Africa-consultant, Ulrich Delius, in Göttingen on Thursday. "This is an attempt to silence critics who work against the exclusion of the discriminated caste of the blacksmiths in Mauritania." In recent years, the members of this caste had increasingly demanded an end to the discrimination. Referring to the example of the descendants of the black African slaves, they had called for a more open society in Mauritania.

On Christmas Eve, a court in the city of Nouadhibou sentenced the 29-year-old
Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed to death by shooting for allegedly defaming the prophet Mohamed. The young man was accused of publishing an article on the Internet, in which he is said to have questioned the prophet Mohamed as well as the existing social order in Mauritania. He was arrested on January 2, 2014, and had since been held in custody. He insisted that his criticism had been misunderstood. The defendant stated that he had not wanted to defame the prophet, but merely wanted to draw attention to a social problem. He fainted during the sentencing.

In Mauriatina, there have been no more enforced death penalties since 1987. The death sentence was applauded in the courtroom as well as in public. "The judges can be sure that the harsh judgment is supported by many Mauritanians. The caste of the blacksmiths, for which the defendant had tried to advocate, has quite a bad reputation – similar to the descendants of African slaves. Blacksmiths are regarded as ill-fated, and it is hardly possible for them to achieve any social advancement even if they manage to change their occupation. Members of this population group cannot be elected as members of parliament or as mayors.

In recent years, there has been an initiative to work against the marginalization of the blacksmith caste by organizing press conferences, events and human rights campaigns to
draw attention to the cause and to demand an end to the discrimination.

Ulrich Delius, head of STP's Africa department, is available for further questions: +49 551 49906 27 or afrika@gfbv.de.

Header Photo: Michal Huniewicz/Flickr