A group of five non-governmental organizations (NGOs) supporting black Mauritanians accused the Mauritanian government of racism, reported ArabicNews.com Monday, quoting press reports.
The NGOs accused Nouakchott of continuing its "aggressive policy" towards black Mauritanians, said the news service, quoting a statement by the NGOs as saying.
They also expressed their regret over the "silence of the international and the African community, rather their involvement in this tragedy."
In a statement to the media in September last year, an activist who heads El-Hor group set up in the eighties to protect the rights of black Mauritanians, express frustrations about the one million slaves in Mauritania, who have been "in bondage to Beydannes (Arab) masters for 800 years."
"And for 800 years, no one has come to set these slaves free," said Moctar Tayeb.
"Islam forbids a Muslim to enslave a Muslim, but in Mauritania, racism is more important than religion," he said -- Albawaba.com
