Slavery alive and 'legal'

Anti-slavery activists in Mauritania say slavery is rampant mainly because it is not considered a crime by the court systems. The courts refuse to hear cases of slavery because it does not officially exist, having been "outlawed" 20 years ago, they told a meeting held last week at Georgetown University, Washington D.C., the Washington Times reported on Wednesday. While government officials say slavery does not exist in the country, the activists told the meeting "owning slaves is just like owning flocks, a symbol of prestige", the Washington Times reported on Wednesday. Nassar Yessa, co-founder of SOS Slaves Mauritania was quoted as saying "the slaves accept their position and are content to be slaves because they have been taught there is paradise under your master's foot". Yessa's organisation is working to make the courts recognise the rights of slaves to freedom. Speakers at university, the Washington Times said, included Khaliva Hamadi, a former slave who talked about life as a slave in Mauritania, and Jimmy Mulla, president of the Southern Sudanese Voice of Freedom who urged the public to speak out against. John Eibner of Christian Solidarity International said the organisations are trying to raise awareness. "I was raised to believe that my duty was to be a slave forever," Hamadi reportedly said. " All the time I woke up late, moved too slow....I was abused by my master," the daily quoted him as saying. He has escaped but without his wife and son, who he said are still being held by their master. However an official of the Mauritania government denied the allegations, including Hamadi's story. "No one [in Mauritania] is allowed to own a human being,' the Washington Times quoted the official as saying.