Posted by 
PRESS STATEMENT
Law Hub Gambia wishes to extend support and solidarity to Madi Jobarteh, a human rights defender who also happens to be one of the contributors of Law Hub Gambia. Madi was, on Tuesday 30 June 2020, invited to Kairaba Police Station for questioning and eventually charged with false information and broadcasting in accordance with Section 181A (1) of the Gambian Criminal Code.
Madi Jobarteh had commented on the Government’s failure to investigate and take actions on the deaths of Messrs. Ousman Darboe, Kebba Secka and Haruna Jatta. Law Hub Gambia finds this action of the Government of The Gambia in contravention of the rights protected under the Constitution of The Gambia, 1997, such as the right to freedom of expression, as well as various regional and international human rights treaties to which The Gambia is a party to.
Law Hub Gambia is concerned with the arbitrary arrest of Madi Jobarteh and the charges brought against him. We therefore add our voice to the #IAmMadi challenge while calling on the Government of The Gambia, stakeholders and individuals to take a stance against any form of injustice and human rights violations.
We therefore call upon the Government of The Gambia to:
1. Drop all charges against Madi Jobarteh, as the use of these charges to silence dissent goes against the ethos of democracy; and
2. Respect its human rights commitments and obligations and ensure that it fully implements values and principles of good governance and abides by the rule of law.
For more information, please contact
Satang Nabaneh
Editor
Law Hub Gambia