Many young girls in Mauritania have been forced to serve as slave housemates.

By Sayed Ahmed Ould Baba, IOL Correspondent

NOUAKCHOTT, November 16, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – A local Mauritanian rights group has denounced the practice of slavery in the northwest African country, calling on international rights groups to take an immediate action to end such an ugly practice.

"An immediate action is urgently needed to look into the widespread slavery in the country," said Najdet Al-Abeed (Help the Slaves) group in a statement, a copy of which was obtained by IslamOnline.net Tuesday, November 15.

"In the absence of any immediate measure, the Mauritanians will feel more desperate for any better future in their homeland."

The rights group also slammed the Mauritanian authorities for what it dubbed "silence over the practice".

"Such an unacceptable behavior has been accelerated by the silence of the incumbent government, similar to the stance of the toppled regime of Maaouya Ould Taya."

Taya was ousted early August after army troops, dominated by presidential guard members, took over the armed forces headquarters while the president was in Saudi Arabia for Saudi King Fahd's funeral.

Slavery was officially banned in Mauritania in 1981 but the practice has been widespread in the African country, despite government denials.

Sad Story

The latest victim of slavery in Mauritania was a 14-year-old girl who found no way but to escape her masters' home to end her suffering.

"I have been serving in my masters' home without getting paid for long years that I can't count," the girl, who nicknamed herself as Khadima (or housemate) told the rights group.

The girl came to her masters' home in the Mauritanian capital with the dream of joining the school.

"But I never went to school," the girl regretted. "Rather, I have been maltreated by my masters for the slightest mistake."

Not only the 14-year-old girl was a victim of the slavery, but also her relatives were forced to serve in other masters' homes.

"My niece has also been doing unpaid work at the home of her relatives," the girl said, adding that the males have sexually abused her.

"She has been raped by them and is now pregnant."

Finding no other way to end her suffering, the 14-year-old girl escaped the home on the eve of `Eid Al-Fitr.

Accomplices

The rights group also denounced widespread police and judiciary corruption in Mauritania.

"Khadima was forced by policemen to change her count to hiding the truth from the whole world," said the rights group.

The group, which enjoys an official recognition, further called on international reporters and human rights groups to come to Mauritania to have a hand-on experience on the primordial practice in the country.

In 2002, the issue of slavery made headlines after Amnesty International issued a report entitled "Mauritania: Future Without Slavery."

The report leveled harsh criticism at the Mauritanian government and accused it of doing absolutely nothing to enforce a law abolishing slavery.