and application of the Charter, th1s Protocol and any other relevant human
rights instrument ratified by the States concerned"
31
15 Burkma Faso ratified the Charter on 6 July 1984 and the Protocol on
Decemb er 1998, and is therefore party to both instruments, it has equally on
28 July 1998. made the declaration accepting the competence of the Court to
receive cases from Individuals and non-governmental organisations, withm
the meaning of Article 34 (6) of the Protoco l
16. In light of the above, the Court finds that it does have prima facte j unsdiction
to hear the Application
IV.
On the provisional measures sought
17 Article 27 (2) of the Protocol prov1des that ''m cases of extreme gravity and
urgency , and when necessary to avo1d irreparable harm to persons , the Court
shall adopt such provisional measures as it deems necessary".
te
18. The first provisional measure sought by the Applicant is his immedia
release.
19. The Court observes that consideration of the measure sought here.
corresponds in substance, to one of the reliefs sought in the substantive case .
namely that the punishment of imprisonment is 1n essence a VIolation of the
right to freedom of expression, in the opin1on of the Court, consideration of
th1s prayer would adverse ly affect consideration of the substantive case.
20. For this reason , the Court cannot grant the Applicant's request for his
Immediate release within the framework of a prov1s1onal measure.
21 The second provisional measure sought by the Applicant is that, in the event
his immediate release is denied, the Respondent be ordered to provide him
with adequate medical care. He states that his health had deteriorated s1nce
his detention and that he needed medication and
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