FREEDOM OF RELIGION allegations of the torture of Ahmed Siraj in In May a bill was proposed in Parliament to police custody in 2020. criminalize hate speech. Media reports claimed the bill targeted conservative Muslim groups and that the MP who proposed it had MALI received threats from these groups. RIGHT TO TRUTH, JUSTICE AND Republic of Mali REPARATION Head of state: Assimi Goïta (replaced Bah Ndaw in May) On 15 January, President Solih appointed Head of government: Choguel Kokalla Maïga (replaced three Ombudspersons to the Office of the Moctar Ouane in June) Ombudsperson for Transitional Justice, established under the Transitional Justice Act Military forces and armed groups continued of 2020. According to the President’s Office, to commit human rights violations and the Act sought to end the culture of impunity, abuses against civilians, including war strengthen the rule of law, prevent future crimes. The intelligence services were abuses of authority and provide suspected of forcibly disappearing senior accountability and reparations for victims of officials. There were some developments in violations that occurred between 1 January investigations into the use of lethal force 1953 and 17 November 2018. during protests in 2020 but progress was On 24 April, protesters gathered to raise limited regarding justice for violations by concerns about the increase in cases of the military. The government failed to harassment and violence against women and protect citizens from discrimination based children in the country. This was in light of on social status. The Covid-19 vaccine roll- government failures to safeguard women and out was slow. children, and properly investigate cases of BACKGROUND harassment and violence against them. Protesters said they were threatened with Following a cabinet reshuffle in May, the arrest by the police. military arrested the transitional president In April, seven years after the and prime minister in the second coup in disappearance of journalist Ahmed Rilwan, nine months. There were clear signs that the the Presidential Commission on Investigation transitional government phase might extend of Murders and Enforced Disappearances beyond the February 2022 deadline. (DDCom) stated there were new ECOWAS suspended Mali following the coup developments in the case which would be and imposed sanctions against several shared with the Prosecutor General’s Office. transitional leaders. In October, the ECOWAS The trial of six men accused of involvement Special Representative in Mali was ordered to in the killing of blogger Yameen Rasheed in leave the country. 2017 faced severe delays. In February, Civilians bore the brunt of the continuing Yameen Rasheed’s family expressed concern armed conflict in the Mopti and Ségou about the carelessness and negligence of the regions. In June, the French authorities prosecutors’ handling of the trial. In April, announced plans for a phased reduction of DDCom called on the authorities to Operation Barkhane, their regional accelerate the trial. counterterrorist operation in the Sahel region. At the end of the year, there had yet to be Rumours that a Russian private military any transparent, thorough, independent and company would fill the void further strained impartial investigations conducted into the Franco-Malian relations. death on 13 September of Mohamed Aslam, a prisoner at Hulhumalé prison, and Amnesty International Report 2021/22 245