Guinea Bissau Blogger Arrested for Criticizing the Prime Minister

Danilson Lopes Ferreira, a musician and blog editor, was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID); the reasons given were “libel, slander and insulting language”. His blog, Doka Internacional- O DENÚNCIANTE, hosted articles critical of the Prime Minister. In a press statement, citizens alleged that the detainment was ordered by Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira, with Minister of Justice, Carmelita Pires carrying out the order. The statement also pointed out that arrests of citizens cannot occur between 7pm and 7am, and as such, the 8pm arrest of this blogger was illegal.