Me Ndèye Fatou Touré : « Dès l’interpellation, un journaliste doit pouvoir contacter son avocat »
During the meeting for exchanges between lawyers and journalists on press freedom in Senegal, this Friday in Dakar, Me Ndeye Fatou Touré gave advice to journalists on their rights and on legal assistance in the event of being questioned in the exercise of their duties.
The lawyer stated that journalists, like all citizens, benefit from legal guarantees that must be respected from the earliest stages of the procedure. "From the moment of arrest, a person has the right to communicate with a lawyer, even before arriving at the police station," she affirmed.
For her, legal representation is essential to enable the journalist to understand the potential charges against him and to ensure his rights are respected throughout the proceedings. "The lawyer's role is to explain to their client why they are being questioned," she clarified.
Ms. Ndeye Fatou Touré also drew attention to the lawyer's role of vigilance during interrogations.
"If a person does not understand a question, they have the right to ask for it to be rephrased, (...) or to remain silent."
According to her, the presence of counsel helps ensure that the statements of the accused are accurately transcribed in the official report. "If someone does not understand a question, they have the right to ask for it to be rephrased. And if they do not wish to answer, they can remain silent," she noted.
Furthermore, the lawyer advocated for the organization of joint seminars between journalists and lawyers in order to better understand the issues related to freedom of the press and respect for fundamental rights.
This exchange meeting was organized by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), in collaboration with the Convention of Young Reporters of Senegal (CJRS), the Union of Information and Communication Professionals of Senegal (SYNPICS), the Council for Respect for Ethics and Professional Conduct (CORED), and media stakeholders to discuss the protection of journalists and investigative journalists in Senegal. "The meeting, which brought together lawyers, press freedom advocates, and journalists, also aims to promote a more favorable environment for the practice of free, pluralistic, and independent journalism by providing greater protection for those who are threatened in Senegal," RSF emphasized.
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