Senegal: justice refuses the request for release of former Chadian President Hissène Habré
Former Chadian President Hissène Habré during his trial in 2015 (photo illustration).
AFP PHOTO / SEYLLOU
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
In Senegal, the new permission request filed by the defense of Hissène Habré on March 29 was refused on Sunday April 18.
The former Chadian president was sentenced in 2016 to life imprisonment by an African court for crimes against humanity during his years in power from 1982 to 1990. Since his conviction, he has been serving his sentence in the Cap Manuel prison in Dakar.
He had already benefited in April 2020 from a 60-day release from prison, granted by the Senegalese justice due to the Covid-19 pandemic and this despite the indignation of the collective of the victims of his regime.
Publicity
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With our correspondent in Dakar
,
Théa Ollivier
Hissène Habré's lawyers had requested a new permission motivated by the "state of health" of the former Chadian leader, aged 79.
A request refused by the sentencing judge in Dakar. "
The reasoning for refusing permission is that the health issue is the responsibility of the management of the prison administration,
" said his lawyers in a press release. However, the latter note that his first permission in April 2020 had been granted "
by the same judge
" given his vulnerability to the coronavirus. They then denounce a “
rule of law (..) with variable geometry
”.
"
This is only justice,
" said Kaltouma Deffalah, victim of Hissène Habré's regime, who reacted in a statement from Human Rights Watch.
"
The man who enslaved me must serve his sentence in accordance with the law,
" says the flight attendant, who is asking for the compensation ordered by the court.
In total, around 125 million euros in compensation are expected by more than 7,300 victims.
Read also: Former Chadian President Hissène Habré sentenced to life imprisonment
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Hissène Habré
Chad
Senegal