Malian journalist jailed after criticising junta at media forum

Chahana Takiou, the publishing director of the Malian biweekly newspaper “22 September”, was placed in detention on Monday following his summons before the judiciary. The arrest comes days after he openly criticised the ruling junta during the Pan-African Media Forum hosted in Bamako from 3 to 6 June.

A judicial source speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed that Takiou was remanded in custody on charges of “damaging the credit of the state through the judicial institution”. His trial has been scheduled for 27 July.

Family members of Takiou also confirmed his detention to our journalists.

During a panel at the forum moderated by Idrissa Hamidou Touré, a prosecutor from a Bamako court, Takiou declared: “There is no peace dynamic in Mali. You arrest journalists and instead of trying them under the press law and press offence regime in Mali, you apply the cybercrime law.”

In a statement issued Monday evening, the Maison de la Presse au Mali expressed its “incomprehension” and “deep concern” over the journalist’s incarceration. The organisation, along with professional media bodies, “strongly condemns this detention warrant, which tarnishes the image of justice, the press and our country,” calling it “a flagrant and serious attack on freedom of opinion and the press.”