Following a decision by the Appeal Court this morning to release on bail a further 11 opposition supporters arrested in Banjul for participating in a peaceful gathering in April, Sabrina Mahtani, Amnesty International’s West Africa Researcher said:
“The release on bail of these 11 individuals means that all those arrested in April and May’s peaceful protests are now free and able to return home to their families – which is exactly where they should be as they committed no crime. This is another step forward for justice, and we hope they will all be acquitted in the very near future.”
“Now we must not forget the others who continue to languish in jail simply for having expressed their opinion. There are still journalists, Imams and other perceived opponents waiting to be released, and we call on the Gambian authorities to free them without delay.”
