4 September 2009

Alert

President grants pardon to six journalists jailed on defamation charges


Incident details

Release

Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, Journalist
Emil Touray, Journalist
Pa Modou Fall, Journalist
Pap Saine, Editor
Ebrima Sawaneh, Editor
Sam Sarr, Editor
(MFWA/IFEX) - Six Gambian journalists sentenced to two years' imprisonment by a Banjul High court for supposedly defaming President Yahya Jammeh were granted presidential pardon on 3 September 2009 and released.

Emil Touray and Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, secretary general and first vice president, respectively, of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), Pa Modou Fall, GPU treasurer, Pap Saine and Ebrima Sawaneh, managing editor and news editor, respectively, of "The Point" newspaper, and Sam Sarr, managing editor of "Foroyaa" newspaper, were convicted on 6 August on all six counts of criminal defamation and sedition registered against them.

The charges stemmed from an 11 June GPU press statement that criticised President Jammeh for consistently slandering the memory of the late Deyda Hydara, a veteran journalist who was brutally murdered by as-yet-unknown assailants in 2004.

The journalists and three others were rounded up and detained incommunicado before being brought to the Kanifing court and formally charged.

In a statement released during the 22h00 news bulletin on the state-owned Gamba Radio and Television Services (GRTS), President Jammeh said the pardon was in line with the spirit of the month of Ramadan, which encourages Muslims to forgive each other.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources reported that President Jammeh sent a high profile delegation, including some members of his own cabinet, to the Mile Two Prison to secure the release of the journalists.

Source:

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What other IFEX Members are Saying

Six Gambia Press Union journalists pardoned and released (RSF)
Six Gambian journalists serving two-year prison sentence in "sedition" case repeatedly condemned by IPI are released (IPI)
IFJ welcomes release of "courageous" journalists in Gambia (IFJ)
Six journalists released in the Gambia (CPJ)
Release of six Gambian journalists: MFWA expresses satisfaction and calls for vigilance (MFWA)
Six journalists pardoned and released (WiPC)

More on this case

Six jailed journalists appeal against harsh sentences 20 August 2009 MFWA condemns jail sentences and outrageous fines handed to six journalists 7 August 2009 Journalists arrested over criticism of president in press union statement found guilty of sedition 6 August 2009 Court acquits one journalist, six others face prison sentences for defaming president 31 July 2009 IFJ condemns lack of fair trial for journalists 24 July 2009 Seven journalists rearrested for defaming President Jammeh 8 July 2009 Six journalists released on bail, another arrested 24 June 2009 Detained journalists charged 24 June 2009 Three press union executives and four journalists detained by National Intelligence Agency 16 June 2009

At a glance

The Gambia
The Gambia
 
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