Police in Niger have freed, without charge, 240 Muslim fundamentalists arrested during violent protests against a fashion show some Islamic leaders considered "satanic", a judicial source said Saturday.
The police were still holding about 30 people, including several prominent religious leaders, who will be taken to court on charges of inciting the riots that took place before the African fashion show was staged last weekend, the source added.
Sources in the Muslim community said most of the arrests took place between November 8 and 10 around the Grand Mosque in Niamey.
A number of Muslim leaders called on the devout to protest at this year's International Festival of African Fashion (FIMA), held on the bank of the Niger between November 10 and 13, dubbing it satanic for bringing debauchery to the west African country.
Violent riots took place in Niamey, where police cracked down with batons and teargas, and at Maradi, a fundamentalist stronghold in the east of the country.
People opposed to the show, which the government said was important to the economy of the desperately poor country, attacked brothels and smashed up bars and national lottery stalls, campaigning against licentiousness and immoral values they believed would encourage AIDS and other ills.
Muslim community sources said that some people were still being arrested after the protests, as others were freed.
Islamist associations have said that at least two marabouts, or holy men, were arrested three days ago -- NIAMEY (AFP)
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