H. E. Sani Abacha
Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council
and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Abuja
Nigeria
Vienna, 4 July 1996
Your Excellency,
The International Press Institute (IPI), representing editors and leading journalists from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organisations and news agencies in 85 countries, is most concerned about the oppressive measures taken against Mr. Hassan Anwar, designated correspondent of the Middle East News Agency (MENA) in Nigeria.
We are informed that Mr. Anwar had received an official entry visa from the Nigerian embassy in Cairo, after presenting the documents designating him as correspondent in Abuja. Upon his arrival in Nigeria, he presented himself to officials at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Information and was received by the Minister of Information who welcomed him and agreed to finalise procedures to accredit him as a foreign correspondent. Upon approval of the Ministry of Information, Mr. Anwar approached the Nigerian security authorities seeking his residence permit prior to receiving official permission to begin his press work. However, he was suddenly detained and accused that some “alleged” organisation had sent him to Nigeria to carry out a “vague mission.” He was detained for week and then released after the highest intervention of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Ambassador to Nigeria. Mr. Anwar was ordered to leave Nigeria immediately, without being able to carry out his press duties.
We consider these actions to be a flagrant attack on freedom of the press and a major aggression on a journalist who was legally and respectfully trying to carry out his duties. Therefore, we urge you to use your utmost influence to see that this case is fully investigated and that Mr. Anwar is allowed to return to Nigeria to perform his journalistic work without any obstacles.
We thank you for your attention.
Yours sincerely,
Johann P. Fritz
Director