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Prisoner release in Gambia should include those for expressing dissent– Amnesty Int’l

Yahya Jammeh
President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia

The release of at least 200 prisoners is a welcome step forward for human rights in Gambia, but should go further to release other prisoners of conscience still detained in the country , Amnesty International said Friday.

President Yahya Jammeh, Friday afternoon, released at least 200 prisoners, following his promise made during a speech marking his 21-year anniversary in power, Wednesday. These include numerous prisoners jailed for treason, drug offences and corruption, a former director of the National Intelligence Agency, Lamin Bo Badjie, former Justice minister Momodou Lamin Jobarteh and former police chief Ensa Badjie. Many family members of people accused of being involved in December 2014’s attempted coup d’état were also released, after nearly six months in detention.

“The release of family members of alleged coup plotters is a welcome move, and one long overdue. The detention of these people for almost six months without charge or contact with their families or lawyers violated international and regional human rights law, as well as Gambia’s own constitution”, said Sabrina Mahtani, Amnesty International Researcher for West Africa.

Yet despite the releases, other political opponents, journalists and prisoners of conscienceremain detained, including the national treasurer of the opposition United Democratic Party, Amadou Sanneh, as well as party members Alhagie Sambou Fatty and Malang Fatty. The trio were convicted in December 2013 and are considered by Amnesty International to be prisoners of conscience.Last week, 17 July, the Managing Director of the independent Gambian radio station Teranga FM, Alagie Abdoulaye Ceesay, was arrested for the second time this month. He is being held without any contact with the outside world.

“We hope that the release of hundreds of prisoners is a step forward for human rights in the country, but there remains much more to do. The Gambian authorities should go further by releasing immediately and unconditionallyall those arrested for expressing their opinion, including journalist Alagie Abdoulaye Ceesayand members of the opposition,” said Sabrina Mahtani.

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