In a poignant plea for justice, RFK Human Rights has brought the case of Ouro-Gouni Motala to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD). This Togolese metalsmith has faced unjust imprisonment amidst a surge of discriminatory arrests targeting the Kotokoli ethnic group, particularly during widespread protests against the long-standing Gnassingbé regime, which has ruled for five decades.
Ouro-Gouni’s troubles began in late 2019 in the heart of a political crisis, where mass demonstrations were ignited to challenge state oppression and demand accountability. Despite his non-participation in any protests or political affiliation, he was wrongfully detained at his workplace without a warrant. Police seized him and personal items, whisking him away to the notorious Lomé Civil Prison.
Throughout two harrowing years in confinement, Ouro-Gouni faced a courtroom questioning about protests—despite having no legal charges laid against him. More than four years later, he remains without a formal charge or arraignment, an evident indicator of the failures within the judicial process in Togo.
Ikechukwu Uzoma, a staff attorney at RFK Human Rights, expressed the gravity of the situation: “Mr. Ouro-Gouni has been unjustly detained for more than four years, during which his last child was born and his wife sadly died.” This statement underlines the devastating personal consequences of his detention and calls for urgent action by the UNWGAD.
The submitted petition highlights the lack of legal justification for Ouro-Gouni’s detention and the egregious violation of his fair trial rights. His detention is showcased as a result of ethnic targeting, reflecting underlying tensions and the suppression of fundamental rights in Togo. The country’s increasingly repressive environment, following a controversial constitutional amendment, raises further concerns about political freedoms and the future of civil liberties under the now-indefinite rule of President Faure Gnassingbé.
RFK Human Rights has petitioned the UNWGAD for the release of Ouro-Gouni Motala, a Togolese metalsmith unjustly detained for over four years. His arrest, part of a discriminatory crackdown on the Kotokoli ethnic group amid political protests, raises serious concerns over human rights violations in Togo. The petition outlines the lack of legal justification for his imprisonment and violations of his fair trial rights, urging immediate action from the UNWGAD.
The case of Ouro-Gouni Motala serves as a manifest symbol of the dire human rights situation in Togo. With his arbitrary detention epitomizing the state’s repressive tactics against ethnic minorities and dissent, the international community’s attention is crucial. Calls for justice from organisations like RFK Human Rights highlight the urgent need for the Togolese government to respect its citizens’ rights and ensure accountability.
Original Source: rfkhumanrights.org
