The columnist and civil society figure, whose real name is Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, was arrested Thursday night at his home. He was heard at the police station in the 5th arrondissement of Bamako after the contempt complaint from two unions of Malian magistrates. They accuse him of criticizing certain judges in his radio program.
Ras Bath must be presented to the prosecutor on Friday. He was released on April 19, after three months in prison for a case of “conspiracy” against the transition. The charges were eventually dropped by the courts.
His CDR comrade, the Collective for the Development of the Republic, Boubacar Yalcoué, condemns a relentless: “We have just concluded a legal procedure on 19 April. In fact, everyone knew what was behind it. It was a way to stumble upon Ras Bath. And when he came out, he continued with his shows. We believe and we believe that we are in a state of law and the citizen has the full right to give his opinion in relation to a court decision. I do not know how an opinion on legal proceedings becomes a crime, a contempt of court. This is what I can not understand at all. And really, it’s outrageous! We fetch him from his house, as if he were really a mess, a good for nothing. We really think it’s arbitrary. We see that freedom of expression is really beginning to face real threats in our country and it takes us thirty years back. ”
Two other people are the subject of the same complaint. This is Master of Laws KassoumTapoà Master Mohamed AlyBathily, father of Ras Bath.
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