Gambia: Open letter to President Jammeh

J. Jammeh President of the Republic of The Gambia State House Banjul, The Gambia Via facsimile +220 4227 034 Dear President Jammeh, We, the undersigned organizations working to promote the compliance of states to their international and regional human rights obligations, are writing to bring to your attention a series of abuses by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) against Gambian journalist A [...] This harassment violates the right to freedom of expression and the right not to be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention, as stated in the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia and guaranteed under international and regional human rights law. [...] Section 19, subsection 2, of the constitution guarantees detainees the right to know the reason for their arrest and the right to a lawyer. [...] He was told not to leave the country as he could be asked to report to the NIA at any time. [...] Such harassment is not only a violation of the right not to be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention, but also a violation of the right to freedom of expression, including the journalistic privilege of not disclosing sources of information.