Opposition leader Ousainou Darboe was sentenced to three years in jail on Wednesday in the Gambia for organising a rare demonstration protesting against the death in custody of a party member. He has said Mrs. Jawara was visiting her homeland, leaving him and their two daughters home in Frederick.
Advertisement
Amnesty International says in a statement that 19 people arrested at the demonstration were convicted and sentenced to three years on Wednesday.
All members of the group pleaded not guilty.
“She has done nothing wrong and this outcome is completely unacceptable”, the officials said. A bail application made by their lawyers was rejected and their lawyers later walked out of court in protest at the biased nature of the judge.
Mr. Jawara emailed the AP what appeared to be a partial transcript of the proceeding in which the court found that Mrs. Jawara apparently did not participate in the protest, but refused to defend herself against the charges.
Mrs. Jawara has been detained since her arrest.
Rights group Amnesty International described the sentences as part of the “continuing downward spiral for human rights in Gambia”.
“Amnesty International considers all those who continue to languish in jail for protesting peacefully to be prisoners of conscience, who should be immediately and unconditionally released”. His death sparked the April 16 demonstration which resulted in more arrests including that of the leader of the UDP, Ousainou Darboe.
UDP officials have said almost five dozen people were arrested during the mid-April protests.
Charges included holding a procession without permit, rioting and disobeying orders to disperse. The four Maryland congressional members last month demanded her release.
Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski joined representatives Chris Van Hollen and John Delaney in issuing the statement Thursday, one day after Fanta Darboe Jawara’s trial concluded in the west African nation.
Advertisement
“Less than five months of the presidential election, the Gambian authorities should take urgent measures for people who wish to speak to do so without fear of retribution”. “If they do not, [Economic Community Of West African States] and the worldwide community should not stand idly by”.
