An opposition youth activist in Senegal was on October 20, 2011 jailed for two years over
his protest letter to the constitutional court asking it to reject the third
term candidacy of the incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade for the 2012
presidential election.
Until his conviction, Malick Noel Seck, General Secretary for
Socialist Convergence, a youth movement linked to the Senegalese Socialist
party, had been in detention at the Criminal Investigations Department since his
arrest on October 11.
He was convicted on three counts of contempt of court, issuing death
threats and assault.
Seck reportedly denounced the long silence of the constitutional court
over attempts by President Wade to contest next year’s
election after serving his second term in office.
“When we take to the streets, we will come in bigger numbers for
you to account for your actions. Life is expensive, and so is death. Facing up
to the situation requires dignity. No one will say we did not give you the
opportunity to face up to us,” was the last part of the letter to judges of the
constitutional court.
Lawyers of Seck have condemned his conviction and expressed their
interest to appeal the case.
The
constitutional council will decide the validity of President Wade’s candidature
in January 2012, ahead of the election on February 26, 2012.
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