Both Pierre Cression and his colleague Thomas Dandois could possibly be sentenced to death if they are found guilty of undermining Niger’s safety by contacting the rebel group. According to Cression’s lawyer, he had appeared at the closed hearing.
Cression and Dandois were arrested back in December. Both men were accused of filming the rebel group called the Niger Justice Movement (MNJ).
Dandois is scheduled to appear before the court on Monday. He has dual-citizenship with both France and Britain. Dandois’ brother had attended the preliminary court hearing and hoped that the two journalists would have the opportunity to give their side of the story.
“It’s a stressful situation, but we’ve been told they’re being well treated in prison. We know Niger is a good country,” said Mark Dandois.
The footage that the reporters filmed will be screened in court.
According to Niamey authorities, the two journalists that work for the Franco-German TV channel Arte had permission to film in both central and southern Niger for a report on the bird flu. But they had also traveled north to interview the rebel group.
Both men were arrested on December 17.
Also facing the death penalty is Moussa Kaka, a local reporter for Radio France International (RFI). He is accused of collaborating with the MNJ.
After the group began fighting, all contact with the MNJ was banned. The group demands for greater autonomy in the north of the country. Northern Niger is rich in uranium deposits.
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