Niger coup anniversary: Death penalty fears for ex-President Mohamed Bazoum - lawyer

A year on from the coup ousted President Mohamed Bazoum may face treason charges, his lawyers.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersDeath penalty fears for Niger ex-president - lawyerEPAMohamed Bazoum, pictured here seven months before the coup, was stripped of his immunity in JuneThe lawyer for Niger’s ousted President Mohamed Bazoum has told the BBC as the country marks a year since the coup that he fears the former head of state could face the death penalty.

Last month Niger's top court stripped Mr Bazoum of his immunity from prosecution, paving the way for him to be tried for treason - which is punishable by death - and other alleged offences.

Mr Bazoum, 64, and his wife Hadiza have been held in detention for the last year with no telephone access and no visits allowed apart from a doctor, lawyer Moussa Coulibaly said.

Earlier this week, France demanded their release but junta leader Gen Abdourahamane Tiani has given a defiant TV address, saying no state or foreign organisation can tell Niger how to behave.

In addition to Mr Bazoum, at least 30 former government officials and people with close links to him have been arbitrarily detained, as well as several journalists, says a joint report by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the International Federation for Human Rights.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqv51gvydgzo

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