Mauritania: Health concern: six inmates in Ouad Naga prison

Index Number: AFR 38/004/2005
Date Published: 15 March 2005
Categories: Africa, Mauritania

Amnesty International is concerned for the physical and mental health of at least four prisoners held, with about 30 others, at Ouad Naga prison, 50 km east of Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania. On 3 February 2005, they were sentenced for committing state security offences to prison terms varying from 10 years to life imprisonment, in a trial which did not meet international standards. The six men told the court they were victims of torture and ill-treatment during pre-trial detention, but no sign has been given that action has been or will be taken to investigate these allegations.