A Cotonou based journalist, Ignace Sossou has been handed over 18months jail term his facebook post.
CPJ reported that “In his Facebook posts, which are included in Benin Web TV’s report on Sossou’s arrest, the journalist quoted Mètonou’s comments at a December 17 media event, where the official described Benin’s digital code as “a weapon” that can be used against journalists, and discussed the government’s decision to shut down the internet during elections in April 2019.”
“Wilfrid Léandre Houngbedji, director of communications for the Beninese government, confirmed to CPJ the details of Sossou’s arrest and said he must “assume the consequences of his acts.” He said he could not comment further on the legal proceedings because it was not a government case. CPJ could not determine whether the journalist has been formally charged.
“The decision by authorities in Benin to arrest and detain journalist Ignace Sossou is a blatant act of intimidation,” said Muthoki Mumo, CPJ’s sub-Saharan Africa representative, from Nairobi. “All legal proceedings against Sossou for his publishing should be dropped.”
Reacting to the news Mr. Emmanuel Dogbevi writes “Sometime this year, he was given a one-month suspended sentence for exposing tax avoidance by some businesses in that country. Now he has been handed an 18-month prison term for posting statements made by a state official on Facebook.”
Ghanaian Journalist, Emmanuel Dogbevi full post of the news:
Today is another dark day in the history of journalism in West Africa. The imprisonment today of one of Benin’s remarkable journalists, Ignace Sossou is a blot on the conscience of West African countries and a purposeful attack on press freedom and the fight against corruption.
This is the second time in a year that Ignace has been unjustly treated by the authorities for simply being a journalist.
Sometime this year, he was given a one-month suspended sentence for exposing tax avoidance by some businesses in that country. Now he has been handed an 18-month prison term for posting statements made by a state official on Facebook.
All right-thinking citizens of the world must condemn this blatant abuse of power and persecution of the journalist.