Ibrahima Diakhaby, a reporter of privately-owned L’Observateur newspaper was on June 11, 2012 assaulted by a member of the Muslim Brotherhood of Layène, a religious sect founded by the late Mame Limamou Laye. Diakhaby was attacked by Ousseynou Thiaw Laye, the grandson of the late Mame Limamou Laye and left him (Diakhaby) with a swollen right eye and a stitch under the lower eyelid.
According to the Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent, Diakhaby had gone to cover the visit of Moussa Tine, a parliamentary candidate of the Pencoo Democratic Alliance, at the Mame Limamou Laye Mausoleum situated in Yoff near Dakar. At the entrance of the Mausoleum Diakhaby together with other journalists were asked to leave their bags and equipment behind before entering. They, however, refused saying they preferred to wait outside. This angered the religious leader who retorted that they should “leave the place”, thus leading to a misunderstanding.
It was when Diakhaby tried to intervene that he was beaten and insulted by the religious leader. The Futurs Media Group, publishers of the L’ Observateur newspaper has condemned the attack and the Union of Information and Communication Professionals of Senegal (SYNPICS) is considering suing for “aggression and public insults of journalists”.
For more information please contact:
Kwame Karikari (Prof)
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70
Fax: 233-302-22 10 84
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.mediafound.org