Detention of Juan Branco in Senegal: “We are in a political muzzling operation”
Since last Saturday, Franco-Spanish lawyer Juan Branco has been in detention in Senegal, after being arrested in Mauritania. He is being prosecuted for several charges, including that of attack and conspiracy. This arrest comes in a tense context, while Juan Branco had previously taken the matter to the International Criminal Court against Senegalese President Macky Sall for crimes against humanity.
To better understand this case, we were able to speak with Luc Brossollet, one of Juan Branco’s French lawyers. He denounces a political muzzling operation aimed at silencing a lawyer who is committed and critical of the power in place.
According to Luc Brossollet, the arrest of Juan Branco is an attack on freedom of expression and represents an attempt to silence any dissenting voice. He emphasizes that Juan Branco was only doing his job as a lawyer by defending Senegalese opponent Ousmane Sonko, and that it is unfair to criminalize him for that.
Luc Brossollet also affirms that the referral to the International Criminal Court by Juan Branco was a legitimate step to denounce the violence committed by President Macky Sall and his regime. According to him, it is essential to preserve freedom of expression and to allow lawyers to fulfill their role as defenders of human rights, without fear of reprisals.
This case highlights the challenges faced by committed lawyers and human rights defenders in many countries. The detention of Juan Branco raises questions about the protection of freedom of expression and the need to guarantee an independent and impartial justice system.
It is essential that the international community reacts to this situation and puts pressure on the Senegalese government to ensure the release of Juan Branco and respect for fundamental rights. The defense of human rights and freedom of expression must not be criminalized, but on the contrary, supported and protected.
In conclusion, the case of the detention of Juan Branco in Senegal is an alarming reminder of the fragility of fundamental rights and the need to remain vigilant to preserve freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial in all countries.