Christian Advocacy Now

Tadjadine Mahamat Babouri, commonly known as Mahadine, has been sentenced to life in prison for nothing more than a Facebook post. In this post, Mahadine called on the government of Chad to clean up corruption, stop misusing public funds, and to address the economic crisis developing in this oil-dependent nation. Days after the post, Mahadine was unlawfully abducted off a street in broad daylight by men assumed to be intelligence officers. In the weeks that followed, Mahadine was beaten, tortured—including electrocution, and moved randomly from prison to prison without the knowledge of his wife and family. Facing a life sentence and charges claiming he has threatened national security, Mahadine has now contracted tuberculosis in prison. He is gravely ill and in immediate need of medical attention. We join Amnesty International in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Tadjadine Mahamat Babouri.

Write to:

President Idriss Deby Itno
PO Box 74
N’Djaména
Chad

Sample letter (but feel free to personalize):

Your Excellency,

I call on you to release Tadjadine Mahamat Babouri, known as Mahadine, unconditionally and without delay. A father of seven, he was arrested, beaten up and jailed for peacefully critiquing the government on Facebook. He now faces a life sentence, and is gravely ill, having caught tuberculosis in prison. Pending his release, please transfer him to Am Sinene prison so he can get the medical care he so urgently needs. Mahadine should not lose his freedom simply for raising his voice and bravely exercising his right to freedom of expression.

Yours sincerely,

Encourage!

Write to Mahadine, telling him you are thinking of him and calling for his release!

Tadjadine Mahamat Babouri
c/o Collectif des Associations et Mouvements Jeunes du Tchad (CAMOJET)
Siège Boulevard
des SAO Quartier Moursal
N’Djaména
République du Tchad