1. Saudi Arabia: Prisoner of conscience Dr Abdullah al-Hamid dies while in detention (Press release, 24 April) 2. Saudi Arabia: Muzzling critical voices – Politicized trials before Saudi Arabia’s Specialized Criminal Court (MDE 23/1633/2020) 3. Saudi Arabia: Review of young men’s death sentences overdue step towards justice (Press release, 27 August) 4. Saudi Arabia: “This is worse than COVID-19”: Ethiopians abandoned and abused in Saudi prisons (MDE 23/3125/2020)
SENEGAL Republic of Senegal Head of state and government: Macky Sall The Criminal Code was amended to increase sentences for perpetrators of rape and child sexual abuse. Police used excessive force. Detainees protested against poor health conditions and health workers threatened strikes over inadequate resources. Communities were at risk of forcible eviction. There was a resurgence of violence in the Casamance conflict.
BACKGROUND In January, the Criminal Code was amended, criminalizing rape and child sexual abuse and increasing sentences for both. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government introduced state of emergency legislation in March, giving them extensive powers to rule without parliamentary oversight. Most of the restrictive measures, including a national curfew, were lifted in June. The ruling party, opposition and civil society organizations came together under the Political Commission of National Dialogue to discuss reforms related to the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Violence resurfaced in Casamance with several attacks against military positions, and targeted killings.
EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE
In January, a man died in police custody in the city of Fatick after he was allegedly beaten by police. An autopsy, which found he had died from “natural causes”, led to violent protests. The authorities then began an investigation into three police officers suspected of being responsible. In May, the gendarmerie tear gassed a youth press conference, in the town of Cap Skirring, called to highlight the lack of drinking water in the town. At least two participants were seriously injured. In June, four protesters were injured when police violently dispersed them while they were demonstrating against the 2013 demolition of their homes in Gadaye suburb in the capital, Dakar.
FREEDOMS OF EXPRESSION AND ASSEMBLY In June, police arrested Assane Diouf after he criticized the government in a live video discussion. He remained in detention on charges including inciting an armed gathering and issuing public insults online. In August, members of Dahiratoul Moustarchidine wal Moustarchidati, a religious organization, ransacked Les Échos newspaper’s office after it alleged that the organization’s leader had contracted COVID-19. Six suspects were arrested for the attack. In September, Adja Ndiaye, a journalist working for Dakaractu was verbally abused and assaulted by police agents in Dakar, while reporting on a story. She suffered injuries to her neck and back from the assault and her camera was also damaged.
RIGHT TO HEALTH Health workers In June, the doctors’ union SAMES threatened strike action over the inadequate provision of PPE and other resources to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, and frontline doctors threatened to strike over unpaid salaries and poor working conditions.
Security forces used excessive force to maintain public order.
Amnesty International Report 2020/21
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