Hamda Abdallah

Several sources describe him as one of the victims of the National Symbols Protection Law. He was sent to prison on 26 October 2021 and released on 24 April 2022 after serving six months.

The Case of Blogger Hamda Abdullah: Poised to Become the First Victim of the "Symbols Law"

Hamda Ould Obaidalla is a Mauritanian blogger and activist known for his bold views and sharp criticisms on social media platforms, especially Facebook, regarding government policies and social conditions in Mauritania. His supporters describe him as an "orphaned and poor" young man who paid the price for his love for his country and for speaking the truth.

Reasons for Arrest and Charges Filed

Blogger Hamda Ould Obaidalla was detained in the city of Nouadhibou due to his digital activity, specifically for:
Criticizing the Regime: Broadcasting a series of live videos on his personal page in which he criticized President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani’s regime and government policies.
Official Charges: The Public Prosecution charged him with "insult, slander, and incitement via social media".
The Law for the Protection of National Symbols: Activists and observers considered his arrest a practical application of the highly controversial "Law for the Protection of National Symbols," which some viewed as a tool to silence voices and confiscate the opinions of others.
Prison Period and Trial Circumstances
Ould Obaidalla was referred to the Nouadhibou Central Prison by a decision from the investigating judge, in response to the request of the Public Prosecution. Sources document the details of this phase as follows:
Sentence Duration: Hamda spent a full 6 months behind bars.
Questioning Justice: In interviews after his release, Hamda expressed that he had been subjected to severe injustice, considering that his trial lacked sound legal standards and describing his imprisonment as "arbitrary".

Suffering Inside Prison:

Some reports and clips indicated difficult conditions experienced by the blogger, reaching the point of speaking about being deprived of seeing the sun or facing humiliating treatment.

Release and Return to the Field

Mauritanian authorities released Hamda Ould Obaidalla on April 24, 2022.