Mauritanian journalist faces death penalty

http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/jan/13/journalist-safety-mauritania

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A young journalist in Mauritania faces a possible death sentence after being convicted of apostasy for an article criticising the prophet Mohammed, according to an AFP report on 6 January.

A judicial source told the news agency that Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed was arrested on 2 January in Nouadhibou and convicted of "lack of respect for the prophet".

The following day a preacher, Abi Ould Ali, announced that he would pay €4,000 to anyone who killed the journalist unless he repented.

His call was immediately denounced by theologians and journalists in the north-western African country formally known as the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

Ould Mohamed's punishment will be decided later by the judiciary. In theory, he could be executed for his "crime."

<em>Sources:</em> AFP via All.Africa.com and Magharebia

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