Mauritanian authorities have ordered a group of about 30 suspected terrorists to be detained at a military garrison ahead of the official commencement of an unprecedented trial in the country, according to information.
"The Mauritanian justice ministry has established a new prison located at the heart of a military garrison to serve as a preventive detention center for thirty suspects expected to stand trial in connection with a number of high-profile terrorism cases," one judicial officer said Thursday under the cover of anonymity.
The detention of these individuals in a military barrack, according to a statement published by the justice ministry, "is amply justified by the danger they represent" to the security of the state.
Commenting on the decision that was made by the Mauritanian Chancellery, Ahmed Ould Youssouf Ould Cheikh Sidna, president of Mauritania's National Bar Association (ONA) and also one of prominent lawyers defending the accused persons, told a press briefing that he was "in support of the move."
Ould Cheikh Sidna, who was addressing local reporters shortly after the announcement of the decision, said that, in his opinion, the ministerial decision was "regular and in line with laid down procedures."
However, the prominent lawyer was quick to say that the decision was inherent with many problems that would pose a number of challenges to the defense teams, according to the local media.
"The new directive will have a negative effect, especially when it comes to guaranteeing the rights of defense team to regularity hold consultations and meetings with its clients," said the ONA president, referring to possible difficulties in accessing the precincts of military barracks.
"But given the prevailing circumstances and weighing the various issues that are at play with regard to this case, I do believe that there is a compelling need to oblige the decision of the justice ministry," said the Mauritanian lawyer.
The creation of a new prison completely at the heart of a military camp to specifically hold suspected terrorists has been necessitated by the spectacular and recurring escapes that have hit the civil prison system especially in the capital Nouakchott in recent years.
Earlier last month, Sidna Ould Sidi, who is one of the three key suspects in a December 24 attack that left four French tourists dead, managed to stage a dramatic escape from the Nouakchott-based Palace of Justice before he was eventually reprehended after anti-terrorist police launched a nation-wide manhunt.
Mauritania, which was once seen as a moderate and tolerant Islamic state, has over the recent past been rocked by a number of high-profile terrorist attacks that have mostly been targeted at both state and foreign interests.
According to Mauritanian security officials, there are growing fears that the al Qaida Branch in North Africa, formerly the Algerian-based Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, is slowly clawing its way into the country.
However, the government appears to have successfully managed to roll back the wave of attacks that has been threatening peace and security in the country, by especially managing to nub the masterminds of all the plots that have been uncovered so far.
Source: Xinhua
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