AFRICA/CHAD - Only 24 hours after his arrest: Father Madou is free

N'Djamena (Agenzia Fides) - "Father Madou is fine, although he says he was mistreated during his arrest," an source from the local Church in the Chadian capital N'Djamena told Fides. The source, who requested anonymity, met Father Simon-Pierre Madou Baïhana, the parish priest of the Church of Blessed Isidore Bakandja in Walia Goré, who was arrested on the evening of August 5 (see Fides, 6/8/2024) and released yesterday, August 6, after his release.
"His release came less than 24 hours after he was taken by plainclothes security forces in a manner that raised fears of kidnapping by bandits," the source said.
"The manner of the arrest, the fact that the prosecutor did not initiate formal prosecution proceedings and his rapid release suggest an act of intimidation against a priest who has taken critical positions towards the government."
"The rapid release of Father Madoua was probably helped by the immediate statement of Archbishop Goetbé Edmond Djitangar, who immediately published a communiqué on the priest's arrest (see Fides, 6/8/2024), as well as the strong mobilization of the Catholic laity," underlines our source.
In an interview with local media, Father Madou explained that the arrest was short-lived "because many people intervened for my release, starting with Archbishop Djitangar". Upon his return to his parish yesterday afternoon, Father Madou was greeted by a cheering crowd. Despite his precarious state of health, Father Madou celebrated Holy Mass after greeting his parishioners. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 7/8/2024)

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