by law. 8. On 14th January 2001, the Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Court, ruling as court of original and final jurisdiction, delivered its verdict (No. 01/2001 UFD/EN vs Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Post and Telecommunications of 14 January 2001), throwing out Mr Ahmed Ould Daddahâs appeal, without really giving the grounds, stating that the claim lacked merit. 9. Since then, the principal leaders and activists of UFD/EN, who did not have the recourse of appealing the Supreme Courtâs judgement before any other Mauritanian court, have been subjected to a veritable witch-hunt, throughout the Mauritanian territory, and have suffered acts of intimidation and harassment by the security services. 10. They have also been excluded from participating, under the banner of their political organisation, in the various elections that have been organised in the country. Complaint 11. The Complainant claims that there has been a violation of the following provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoplesâ Rights: Articles 1, 2, 7(1)(a), 9(2), 10(1), 13 and 14. Procedure 12. The communication was submitted on the 25th April 2001, during the 29th Ordinary Session, held in Tripoli from 23rd April to 7th May 2001. 13. The Secretariat acknowledged receipt of the communication on 2nd May 2001. 14. At the 30th Ordinary Session, the African Commission considered the communication and decided to be seized of the case. Consideration of its merits was deferred until the next session and the Commission asked that the parties be informed accordingly. 15. The Secretariat informed the Respondent State of the decision of the Commission in its Note Verbale of 15th November 2001 and the Complainant was informed of the same decision in an official letter dated 19th November 2001. 16. On 22nd January 2002, the Secretariat received the observations on the admissibility and merits of the case from the Respondent State. Those observations were forwarded to the Complainant. 17. The following documents in Arabic were attached to the observations of the Respondent State: • Petition dated 27/01/2001 of Mr Mohamed Oula Gowj requesting the review of the decision of the Supreme Court No. 01/2002 of 14/01/2001; • Letter of the Assistant Secretary General of UDF/EN dated 24/01/2001; • Letter of Mr Mohamed O. Gowj cancelling his petition of 27/01/2001; • Statement of no appeal issued by the Registrar of the Supreme Court dated 12/01/2001 • Communiqu?(C) of UDF/EN to development partners; • Statement of general policy of UDF/EN. 18. On 25th March 2002, the Complainants, comprising of INTERIGHTS, lâAssociation mauritanienne des droits de lâHomme and Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa, presented the Secretariat of the Commission with their written observations on the admissibility of the complaint, in reply to the arguments on admissibility of the complaint as advanced by the Respondent State. 19. At its 31st Session, held from 2-16 May 2002 in Pretoria, South Africa, the African Commission declared the communication admissible and called on both parties to submit their observations on the merits of the case without undue delay. 20. By letter dated 29th May 2002, the Secretariat of the Commission informed both of the concerned parties of the Commissionâs decision. 21. On 7th August 2002, the Secretariat of the Commission acknowledged receipt of the written observations on the merits of the communication, received on 5th August 2002 from the Complainant. A copy of these observations was forwarded to the Respondent State. 22. At its 33rd Ordinary Session held in Niamey, Niger, the African Commission listened to the oral remarks of both parties and decided to defer its decision on the merits to the 34th Ordinary Session. The parties concerned were notified of the decision on 4th July 2003. 2